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Tag: Jega

  • INEC to clear backlog of promotions, says Jega

    •‘Commission’s reforms must be sustained’

    Independent National Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has promised to clear accumulated promotions before his tenure ends this month.

    After serving out a five-year term, the INEC boss vowed not to continue in the post, even if he is offered a second term.

    Jega, who spoke yesterday in a statement issued by the commission in Abuja after a retreat for Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), ruled out the prospect of any “automatic promotion”.

    The INEC chairman, in what seemed like a valedictory message, warned against reverting the gains of the commission.

    The idea of appointing returning officers outside the commission, he said, must be sustained against what was obtained in the past, where Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Electoral Officers (EOs) returned election results.

    Jega explained that the current process has brought about “remarkable improvement”, arguing that the stress on RECs and EOs during elections was too much to accommodate the additional task of announcing the outcome of elections.

    He said: “The strain is too much. They are not superhuman and they will make mistakes.”

    The INEC boss said states, which did not create or activate Registration Area Centres (RACs) during the last general elections, would be directed to account for their inability.

    He expressed delight that most of the returning officers appointed by the commission in the 2011 and 2015 general elections were above board.

    Jega added that the retreat made suggestions, which when implemented by the next commission, would remarkably improve the electoral process.

  • INEC to clear promotion backlog – Jega

    INEC to clear promotion backlog – Jega

    The Chairman, Independent National Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has promised to clear the bag log of all promotions before the expiration of his tenure at the end of this month.

    Jega tenure expires at the end of June, after serving out a five year term. The INEC boss has vowed not to continue in the post even if offered a second term.

    Jega who spoke at a recent retreat for Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), however ruled out the prospect of any “automatic promotion.”

    In what seems like a valedictory message, Jega warned against reverting the gains of the commission, stressing that the idea of appointing returning officers outside the commission must be sustained against what was obtained in the past where Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Electoral Officers (E.O.s) returned election outcomes.

    The process he explained has brought about “remarkable improvement in the process.”

    He argued that the stress on RECs and E.O.s during elections was too much, to accommodate the additional task of announcing the outcome of elections.

    According to him; “The strain is too much. They are not superhuman and they will make mistakes.”

    Professor Jega disclosed that states which did not create or activate Registration Area Centres (RACs) during the last general elections will be directed to account for their inability.

    He expressed delight that most of the Returning Officers appointed by the Commission in the 2011 and 2015 general elections were above board.

    He further observed that the retreat made a number of brilliant suggestions, which when taken into action by the next Commission, would remarkably improve the electoral process.

  • From Esua to Jega

    From Esua to Jega

    Since the first electoral commission was established in 1964, Nigeria has recorded varying experiences with the helmsmen. Here are the nation’s electoral chiefs since then and the highlights of their stewardships

    Eyo Ita Esua (1964-1966)

    In the beginning, there was no Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). But there was Federal Electoral Commission (FEC), the first agency established in the nation to act as electoral umpire. It was headed by Eyo Ita Esua from Calabar in Cross River State.

    Born on 14th January, 1901, Esua was a trade unionist and school teacher. In fact, he was a founding member of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) where he served as the first General Secretary from 1943 until 1964 upon his retirement.

    Though he came into FEC with a high sense of dedication and uprightness, the handling of the 1964 December elections left much to desire. The parliamentary elections, which held on December 30, were marred with controversies. But there was a boycott in some constituencies in Eastern Region, Lagos and Mid-Western Region. As a result, the elections held on March 18, 1965 in these constituencies.

    When the results were released, Nigerians cried foul, alleging manipulations. There was widespread violence across the nation. To worsen matters, two members of the electoral commission resigned after serious altercations with Esua.

    By the time the commission conducted the 1965 Western Region elections, the centre could no longer hold. An overwhelmed Esua admitted the body would never be able to hold free and fair polls. The electoral logjams created the opportunity for the first military coup spearheaded by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. The failed electoral process ultimately led to the collapse of the First Republic. Esua left the commission with bruised reputation. He died in 1973.

    Michael Ani (1976-1979)

    For 10 years, the military held tightly to political power. Several promises to return the nation to democratic governance were thwarted. This was the situation until the General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime initiated moves for civil rule.

    It established the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) on 15 November, 1976 to conduct election, register political parties and delimit constituencies. Obasanjo appointed Michael Ani to head the commission. Born on November 30, 1917, Ani had just retired from the civil service when he was appointed.

    Ani conducted the August 1979 presidential election. Shehu Shagari of National Party of Nigeria (NPN); Obafemi Awolowo, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigerian People’s Party (NPP); Aminu Kano of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Waziri Ibrahim of Greater Nigerian People’s Party (GNPP) contested the poll.

    Everything went well until the two-third majority debacle. FEDECO declared Shagari as the winner but Awolowo kicked. He went to court but lost to Ani’s interpretation of the contentious decree that expected a winner to obtain “one quarter of votes cast in at least two thirds of the states of the federation”.

    Ani’s critics said the matter reduced his standing in the public. That Republic, called the Second Republic, was however terminated by another military takeover that brought General Muhammadu Buhari into power.

    Victor Ovie -Whisky (1980-1983)

    But before Buhari’s coup, the remnant of FEDECO was handed over to Victor Ovie -Whisky from Delta State. He was appointed by President Shehu Shagari. As at the time of his appointment, he was the Chief Judge of Bendel State.

    Though considered impartial and upright, Ovie-Whisky could not conduct free and fair polls. The 1983 general elections were marred by manipulations and irregularities. There was general discontent in the land with electoral officials accused of rigging for the ruling NPN.

    Despite the irregularities, the electoral chief declared he was pleased with the process. He however stated “we did not expect to be perfect.” He also debunked insinuations that he was compromised, claiming he would faint if he were to see N1million cash. Some observers said the poor handling of the elections sowed the seeds that led to the truncation of the Second Republic.  Ovie -Whisky died at 89 on 18 July, 2012.

    Eme Awa (1987-1989)

    Prof. Eme Awa had the reputation of being the only electoral umpire to resign from office. The Professor of Political Science called it quit over a brat with President Ibrahim Babaginda, who appointed him as chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON).

    Though he had a brief stint, Awa also had his integrity questioned over the 1987 local government polls, which he conducted. Overcrowded polling stations and ambiguous voter registers marred the polls. But his associates said he couldn’t have done any better because he was new on the job and didn’t inherit any structure on ground.  Awa died at 79 in the Holy Cross Hospital in the United States of America in March 2000.

    Humphrey Nwosu (1989-1993)

    A student of Professor Awa, Professor Humphrey Nwosu came into office highly recommended. He did a yeoman’s job with the nation’s electoral process, especially the introduction of the widely-applauded Option A4 voting system. Nwosu was only a few hours away from making history. But the military junta of Babangida had other ideas.

    It stopped the electoral chief from continuing the announcement of results of the June 12, 1993 elections believed to be the freest and fairest in the nation’s history. He was dismissed by Babangida under suspicious circumstances. Nwosu amazingly went into oblivion thereafter.

    He reemerged in 2008 with a book where he tried to exonerate Babangida from the cancellation of the 1993 polls. His attempt was however widely criticised. It is believed he had not given a clear picture of what really transpired behind the scene on the June 12 debacle.

     

    Okon Eya (June 1993- November 19, 1993)

    Many Nigerians will not easily remember the renowned Professor of History at the University of Calabar, Professor Okon Eya, once presided over NECON. This is because his stint was the shortest in the annals of electoral umpire.

    He was appointed by Babangida to replace the sacked Nwosu after the June 12 crisis. His brief was to conduct a new presidential election after the annulled June 12 elections by March 1994.

    This was not to be however because of the political turmoil that followed the annulment. The former Ambassador to Argentina, Peru, Paraguay and Chile was sacked by General Sani Abacha on assumption of office. He was later appointed Deputy VC and Acting VC of the University of Calabar.

    Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994-1998)

    Born in 1930, Chief Summer Dagogo-Jack was a member of the Nwosu-led NECON from 1989-1993. Abacha appointed him as head of the commission to oversee the transition to civil rule process. But his critics said it appeared he worked more towards the transmutation of the military dictator to a civilian president.

    The five registered parties adopted Abacha as their presidential candidate. Dagogo-Jack was in full support and even reined in recalcitrant party officials. NECON, under him, conducted the local government and National Assembly polls.

    The death of Abacha on June 8, 1993 however stopped the machination of NECON. As Abacha left the scene, Dagogo-Jack also disappeared into thin air.

    Ephraim Akpata (1998-January 2000)

    Justice Ephraim Akpata scored two firsts. One, he was the first chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was also the first electoral umpire to die in office. Born in 1927, the retired Justice of Supreme Court was appointed by General Abdulsalam Abubakar to head the newly constituted INEC.

    Akpata saw to the registration of the legacy parties that gave rise to the parties of today. He insisted that only parties with national spread would contest elections. To contest National Assembly and presidential elections, only parties that won seats in local government in at least ten states qualified to present candidates.

    This helped to weed out smaller parties, leading to the formation of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Peoples’ Party (APP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The 1998 local government polls he conducted were largely peaceful and fair. He however condemned the alliance of AD and APP sequel to the 1999 presidential election, saying they wanted to benefit from the merger without going through the process.

    Akpata oversaw the election that led to the emergence of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. He died on January 8 2000 at 72.

    Abel Guobadia (2000-2005)

    Former educator and administrator, Abel Guobadia, was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 to replace the deceased Akpata. He was confirmed by the Senate in May 2000. He oversaw the 2003 presidential election that led to Obasanjo’s re-election. The election was marred by low turnout and massive manipulations, especially in the South-West where the PDP swept into power in all six states, except Lagos.

    For all his failings, Guobadia had the distinction of being the first electoral chief to run out his tenure since independence. He died on February 4, 2011 at 78 after retirement from INEC.

    Maurice Iwu (June 2005 – 28 April 2010)

    The next INEC boss was Professor Maurice Iwu. The Professor of Pharmacognosy’s first baptism in INEC was in 2003 when President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as Resident Commissioner for Imo. He became the chief electoral officer after the retirement of Guobadia in June 2005.

    As the chief umpire for the 2007 polls, Iwu was widely maligned as compromised. The polls are still described by many as one of the most flawed and manipulated in the history of the nation. Even late President Musa Yar’Adua, who benefitted from the elections, said the process that bought him into office was flawed.

    Before the election, Iwu declared that only foreign observers will be allowed. Local monitors, he maintained, would not be allowed. That position set him against politicians and civil society groups. To them, that was a preamble to electoral manipulations.

    His critics alleged that under Iwu, elections were won and lost based on inducements. This led to calls for his removal. On April 28, 2010, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yielded the calls and removed Iwu, the chief electoral umpire.

    Attahiru Jega (June 2010-2015)

    Professor Attahiru Jega came into office with a wave of public approval. Two things accounted for this. He is widely seen as an upright academic with strong ethical values. Two, the process that led to his appointment was transparent. Former President Goodluck Jonathan only appointed him after approval by a meeting of the National Council of State meeting.

    Jega, a former President of Association of Senior Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), settled down to his new role with stoical strength. As a member of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, Jega was well acquainted with the electoral challenges in the nation.

    He conducted the 2011 presidential election that led to the election of Jonathan. The elections were hailed as free and fair. In 2015, Jega supervised the presidential poll that produced Muhammadu Buhari. Sequel to the polls, he had introduced the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and biometric registration that many believed reduced incidents of electoral manipulations. He is perceived as Nigeria’s biggest electoral reformer.

    So, as the former Vice Chancellor of Ado Bayero University (ABU) Kano, who prepares to retire from the commission on June 30, 2015, the world is very much interested in knowing the next chief electoral umpire.

     

  • Jega disowns anti-card reader directive in Rivers, others

    Jega disowns anti-card reader directive in Rivers, others

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not change its directive on the use of card reader for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said yesterday..

    Jega, who spoke during a post 2015 general election assessment retreat for resident electoral commissioners in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, said it was only during the Presidential election that the commission instructed states that wherever there was evidence of card readers failure they should revert to manual accreditation.

    The retreat’s theme: “2015 General Elections: Lessons and way forward.”

    There was manual accreditation in some states, including Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

    The chairman, who said no elections had ever been perfect, insisted that the last general elections were highly successful.

    Jega said: “If you recall there was at least an interval of two weeks between the presidential and governorship elections; we studied everything that was a problem with the card readers within those two weeks and rectified them.

    “We were absolutely sure that for the governorship election card readers would not be a problem. That was why for the governorship election we instructed that the card readers must be used.

    “And so, if there is evidence of any place where they just put aside the card readers and use manual accreditation, that election can be examined; I am sure the tribunal will look at the evidence clearly as to what happened.

    “As far as I know, the commission did not change that directive: so card readers must be used, and there were places where card readers were not used for the governorship election, then people were entitled to produce evidence for that so that the commission could take necessary actions.

    “What we meant by card readers must be used is that we did not expect that in any polling unit, people will say card readers were not functioning, people would say we were going to use manual accreditation, no; because we said if a card reader failed, come back the following day, we would replace the card readers for the election to take place. As far as I know, virtually in all the places, where the card readers actually failed, we came back the following day and did the elections.

    “We have repeatedly said that the elections were not perfect, and no elections have ever been perfect, but the last general elections were highly successful, but we are doing this retreat in order to assess what we did so that we can continue to improve, because there is still room for improvement.

    “I am happy about what we had done, and of course, I am bowing out because my tenure has expired. We all have tenures, and once our tenure expires, we all leave and other persons will come.

    “So, we are happy that we had been given the opportunities to do 2011 and 2015 general elections, and we are also happy that the outcome had been generally commendable. We hope the next commission will keep on doing a better job than what we had done.”

  • INEC didn’t change directive on card reader – Jega

    INEC didn’t change directive on card reader – Jega

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday said the commission did not change its directive on the use of card reader for the governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

    Jega, who spoke during a post 2015 general election assessment retreat for resident electoral commissioners in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said it was only during the presidential election that the commission instructed all the states that wherever there was evident of  card readers’ failure they should revert to manual accreditation.

    The theme of the retreat was: “2015 General Elections: Lessons and Way forward.”

    The INEC chairman, who said no elections had ever been perfect, insisted that the last elections were highly successful.

    Jega said: “If you recall there was at least an interval of two weeks between the presidential and governor elections, we studied everything that was a problem with the card readers within those two weeks and rectified them.

    “We were absolutely sure that for the governorship election, card readers would not be a problem. That was why for the governorship election we instructed that the card readers must be used.

    “And so, if there is evidence of any place where they just put aside the card readers and use manual accreditation, that election can be examined. I am sure the tribunal will look at the evidence clearly as to what happened.

    “As far as I know, the commission did not change that directive, so card readers must be used. And if there were places where card readers were not used for the governorship election, then people were entitled to produce evidence for that so that the commission could take necessary actions.”

     

  • Jega urges INEC to sustain reform for improved electoral process

    Jega urges INEC to sustain reform for improved electoral process

    Following the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega Monday said it’s time for the commission to begin to consider reforms that will help improve electoral process.

    Jega who spoke in Abuja at a post 2015 general election retreat organized for electoral officers said despite the global commendation and applause that greeted the recent election, there is still room for improvement.

    He stressed that the success recorded was as a result of the sacrifice and energy put in to improve on the 2011 general elections.

    Consequently, the INEC boss said that officers should take time to review the performance of the commission in the last elections, and point out  areas where the commission has not done well with a view to improve on such areas in future elections.

    INEC boss argued that for the country to continue to develop; it needs credible and good elections.

    He said: “Well conducted elections will result in the election of good people which can drive the process of governance very well and deliver good governance for our people.

    “Good governance in terms of satisfying the need and aspirations of our people through the governance process.

    “So we must continue to do our best to improve election the electoral process and we cannot rest on our oars in addressing all the challenges associated with elections,’’ Jega said.

    Jega also added that the success of the 2015 general elections was as a result of the efforts and measure took by INEC staff to work on mistakes of the 2011 elections.

    He said in spite of the accolades INEC got on 2015 general elections, it was time to begin to reflect on areas of further reforms need.

    “Let us not waste time discussing what we did right.

    “What we did right was good and it has helped us to have a good election in 2011 and 2015 but let us focus on what we did wrong.

    “What were those things that we shouldn’t have done which you have observed as field officers that we did which we need to correct or improve on as we move towards the future,’’ he said.

    Jega was however full of praises for the electoral officers for their roles in the 2015 elections, which according to him made the elections a success.

    He said, “We have worked very hard, tirelessly under very difficult circumstances to get this outcome.

    “Obviously, we recognise that in spite of our best effort, we have not been able to create the best and the excellent environment under which you are to conduct your jobs.

    “ In spite of the constraint, and the challenges, you  have all done your best and your best this time around has been recognised as being good enough.”

    He therefore urged participants at the retreat to discuss on measures to improve the electoral process as well their welfare.

    Mr. Shalva Kipshidze, the IFES Country Director in his remark congratulated the Commission for the successful conduct of the 2015 elections.

    Kipshidze said that IFES was happy to support INEC’s effort to review the conduct of the 2015 elections as to build on the good practices and lessons learnt as Nigeria prepare for 2019 general elections.

  • How ’ll history remember Jega?

    How ’ll history remember Jega?

    INNOCENT DURU examines the contributions of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to the sustenance of electoral democracy.

    PROFESSOR Attaihiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), proved he was an incorruptible umpire with his sterling performance during the  general elections. He combined tact, political sagacity and sincerity of purpose to give the country an election that was adjudged to be  free and fair locally and internationally. By this feat, he saved the country from the political conflagration that was waiting to consume it had the elections gone awry.

    The successful conduct of the elections against all odds, justified the confidence reposed in him by Nigerians when he was appointed in 2010 by President Goodluck  Jonathan.

    His resilience and avowed commitment to making sure that the elections were free and fair, sharply contrasted with the performance of his predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu, whose tenure was characterised by overt electoral fraud that totally diverted the country from the path of political glory and made it a laughing stock among the comity of nations. Iwu simply did the bidding of his pay masters instead of carrying out the demands of  his office.

     

    Awiding Iwu’s mistakes

     

    Prince Tony Momoh, the former Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), had this to say about him during his tenure: “ Maurice Iwu will go down in history as the most controversial INEC chairman Nigeria ever had and may ever have.  If Nigeria has an Iwu again, that is an embodiment of the negative part of the Iwu phenomenon, there is little doubt that his tenure would be the sharp knife that would cut that tenuous chord that had held Nigeria together over the years, come rain or shine.

    “ Iwu  so personalised the office of  the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman  that his name will remain, in its negative connotation, a synonym for electoral malpractices.For five years now when Iwu took office at INEC, he has done a great deal to grow the institution, but he has done much more, in the opinion of many, to bring shame to Nigeria as a country that cannot meet the simple requirement of conducting elections by ensuring that people vote, that the votes are counted, and that their votes count in the choice of those who govern.

    “The world, and Nigerians, minus Iwu and his collaborators, knew there were no elections in 2007.  An election in which ballot papers were printed and delivered after the swearing in of those who are supposed to have won the election, cannot be said to be an election, nor to describe it as free and fair.

    “An election in which compilation of results took place before the day of elections, on the day of the elections, and even after the day of the elections, without regard and respect for the people who were lined up to cast their votes and waited in vain to do so, cannot be said to be an election, nor can it be described as free and fair. We need someone who can look people in the face, however powerful they are or claim to be, and tell them what the law says and his responsibility to apply its provisions.

    Jega turned out to be the person that Prince Momoh and Nigerians were looking forward to, to take over the commission and sanitise the electoral process in the land.

     

    Jega’s profile

     

    Born on the 11th of January, 1957 he attended Sabon-Gari/Town Primary School, Jega, where he obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate from 1963 to 1969 ; and the West African School Certificate (WASC) and the General Certificate of Education (GCE) O’ Level in 1974 at the Government Secondary School, Birnin-Kebbi. On leaving secondary school, he was admitted into Bayero University College, Kano (ABU, Zaria) for his Advanced Level Certificate studies; after which he proceeded for his undergraduate studies. He graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hon) in Political Science.

    In 1979, after the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in the then Cross River State, he took up appointment with Bayero University, Kano (BUK).  He thereafter proceeded to Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA, where he obtained his Masters (1981) and Doctorate (1985) degrees in Political Science – specializing in Political Economy. While at Northwestern, he also obtained a Certificate in African Studies.

    Professor Jega’s rich academic career saw him serve at various times as Visiting Research Fellow, University of Stockholm, Sweden (Swedish Institute Fellowship), 1994; Visiting Research Fellow, St. Peter’s College, University of Oxford, 1996; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Bayero University, Kano, 1995-1996; Acting Director, Centre for Research and Documentation (CRD), Kano,1998; and Director, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Mambayya House, BUK, 2000-2004. He attained the pinnacle on September 6th, 2004, with his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano – a position he occupied until his appointment as the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in June 2010.

    His appointment as the INEC boss was widely applauded by various political parties, professional bodies and individuals.

    The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary , Prof. Rufai Alkali, hailed Jega’s appointment believing  that he would bring his wealth of experience as a professor of political science to bear in the performance of his new assignment.  He did so.

    Also congratulating him, the ANPP called on Jega to create a “re-branded INEC by flushing out all bad eggs” in the commission as soon as the Senate ratified his appointment. He wasted no in doing that.

    The speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Onofiok Luke  said the academic’s antecedents as ASUU chairman foretells a great era in the nation’s electoral system, adding that Jega’s  sheer commitment to public interest, his uprightness and consistency as ASUU chairman all justified his choice.

    The then president of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), described him as a man of a high pedigree that Nigerians were looking up to, to deliver credible elections in 2011. He lived up to this expectation.

    He did not only deliver credible elections in 2011, he also went ahead to successfully conduct elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states before faithfully conducting the just concluded elections.

     

    Sanctity of ballot box

     

    The journey towards conducting the 2015 elections was, however, not a roller coaster drive for the INEC boss. For him, it could be best described as a torturous assignment as he was vilified, insulted, hounded and pushed to the point of  giving up the job by the disgruntled forces that were bent on discrediting the exercise. Instead of  pandering to their whims and caprices,  he remained resolute to the cause of saving the country from the electoral ditch his predecessor had plunged the country into.

    The PDP, which had earlier hailed his appointment, turned his arch enemy, ruthlessly attacking him at every given opportunity.

    The party unleashed its anger on  Jega over his insistence that the commission would use the Permanent Voter Cards for the election and plotted to remove him.

    The plot to remove him thickened when the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PDPPCO) alleged that he was working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the elections.

    The Director of Media of the PDPPCO, Femi Fani-Kayode, who made the allegation however, declined to provide evidence, noting that he was aware that the allegations were weighty and would expect Jega to react.

    This was followed by despicable protests and call for the sack of Jega by members of  the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), in Ebonyi State, and the Gani Adams-led Oodua Peoples Congress, in Ebonyi and Lagos States.

     

    Failed bid to sack Jega

     

    After failing in its bid to sack  him before the presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP saw the collation centre of the election results as their its opportunity to throw the blow that would break the camel’s back. Apparently acting the party’s script, a former Minister of Niger Delta, and representative of the party, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe, hijacked the floor, provoking Jega by calling him all sorts of names without giving him the chance to respond to his allegation. Instead of losing his temper as expected by Orubebe and the directors of his script, Jega remained calm and absorbed all the insults thereby saving the country the crisis that would have followed the anxiety generated by the public show of shame displayed by the disappointed Elder.

    Chief Ladi Williams, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said  the INEC boss did excellently well  in the manner he conducted the elections, noting that he displayed maturity and political sagacity in the way he handled Elder Orubebe’s invective  during the collation of the results. He suggested that Czar of the electoral body should be given a national honour.

    “Jega did brilliantly well and the nation should be grateful to him. The likes of Orubebe belong to the Dark Age and should be confined to the dust bin of history. We were lucky it was Jega who was in the steering wheel, if not; the nation would have been set on fire. Today, Nigeria can sit in the comity of nations and hold its head high.

    “I will suggest that the Federal Government should give him national honour  on October 1. With due respect, it would be degrading to compare him with Prof. Maurice Iwu. The only person that comes close to him is Prof Humphrey Nwosu. If we have 10 people like Jega in the leadership of the country, the nation would be better for it.”

    He did not however support any idea to retain Jega for the job, saying: “ He has played his role and did his best. He should be allowed to go at the end of his tenure so that another person can take over from him. Instead of retaining him, the government should fund a programme in the university where he lectures to groom the younger ones.”

    Prof Itse Sagay, a prominent lawyer, had mixed feelings about Jega’s performance.  He said: “He is a highly principled person. He demonstrated a fair degree of integrity conducting the election. His conduct of the elections were better than what we had under Iwu  and Goubadia. He did well in other parts of the country but failed in the South-south and the South-east. There was no election in these two areas, yet Jega accepted it.  There was no presidential election in these areas and Jega allowed it to go. He really failed in these two regions.”

     

    Triumph of technology

     

    TECHNOLOGY played a crucial role in the success of the elections, which produced the officials taking over today; it rekindled the hope of the electorate in the electoral process in the country.

    It birthed the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and Smart Card Reader (SCR) that became an albatross for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The deployment of the devices checkmated the culture of monumental rigging that characterised previous elections in the country and gave the people a fresh hope that their votes, which previously did not count, would begin to count.

    The SCR, an electronic accreditation system which verified the biometrics of voters replaced the manual accreditation of voters while the PVC that carried biometric data for each voter, replaced the Temporary Voter Card (TVC) that encouraged all forms of manipulations and electoral fraud in the past.

    In the course of rolling out its plans for the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  said its decision to deploy the SCR for the election was to verify the PVCs presented by voters at polling units and ensure that they were the genuine ones issued by it. The second objective, according to the commission, was to biometrically authenticate those who presented PVCs at polling units and ensure that they were the legitimate holders of the cards.

    Thirdly, the body also aimed to, through the instrumentality of the device, provide a disaggregated data of accredited voters in male/female and elderly/youth categories for local and national research and planning purposes.

    Lastly, it said, the technological device was deployed for the purpose of sending the data of all accredited voters to its central server, thereby, equipping the commission to be able to audit figures subsequently filed from the polling units by electoral officials and determine if fraudulent alterations had been made.

    In spite of these laudable reasons for which the body announced that the devices were to be deployed for the elections, some of the political parties, spare-headed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), became suspiciously critical of the plan,apparently fearing that it was going to spell doom for them.

    Sensing the calamity that the deployment of the SCR could bring to its existence as a party, the PDP at various times launched hydra-headed attacks against the INEC and its chairman, Prof Attaihiru Jega on the one hand and the All Progressives Party (APC) and its leaders, on the other hand.

    In its desperation to make sure that the SCR was not used for the elections, the party went beyond public condemnation of the device. It proceeded to the courts and filed plethora of suits against the INEC. The party did not do so in isolation; it also mobilized and sponsored other parties and groups to do the same with the ultimate aim of frustrating the elections.

    At a point, the presidential campaign organisation of the PDP, through the Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that INEC had colluded with the opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to compromise the card readers.

    According to him, the contract for the production of card readers was awarded to companies owned by a friend and supporter of the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    He alleged that: “Our concerns stem from the fact that the moving spirit and a major shareholder and board member of the company that supplied the card reader system and machines to INEC is not only a friend of but also an ardent and keen supporter of General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.That man’s name is Sani Musa and he is indeed the main force behind the company. The company’s name is Act Technologies Ltd. and the Chairman of the company is one Engineer SK Danladi.

    “How and why INEC would give the contract to supply the card readers to a fanatical APC supporter and to a man whose other company was officially blacklisted by the INEC a couple of years ago for sharp practices, needs to be explained. Sani Musa has expressed his undying support for the APC and General Buhari and his hatred and virulent opposition to the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan openly and publicly on his Facebook wall.

    Reacting, the APC campaign team said the PDP’s rejection revealed a sinister plot by the ruling party to manipulate the electoral process.

     

    Success story

     

    In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the APC noted that, the INEC’s decision to use the card readers was borne out of the need to ensure the transparency and integrity of the elections.

    He said: “Aside the huge financial investment involved in the procurement of the card readers, the PDP’s desire to hoodwink Nigerians on this anti-rigging device is not just subterranean but an affront on the independence of the electoral body.”

    Thereafter, a former national Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade George Turnah and five others dragged INEC to court, seeking an order to compel the commission not to conduct the 2015 general elections using the  PVC and the SCR devices. They sought an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain the respondents from conducting the general elections with the use of the PVC and the SCR as the only medium for voting pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    On another occasion, four other political parties; Alliance for Democracy, United Democratic Party, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria and Action Alliance, believed to have been sponsored by the PDP, also sought to use the court to restrain the INEC from using the devices for the general elections but a Federal High Court in Abuja, struck out their application.

     

    Failed litigations

     

    In the build up to the elections, a chieftain of the party, Waliu Taiwo, feverishly ran to the Federal High Court in Lagos to file a suit seeking to stop the use of electronic devices.

    Unwilling to embrace the change which incidentally is the slogan of the APC, the plaintiff said: “This is the first time anywhere in the world where a device such as the Card Reader as proposed to be used by INEC would be used to the effect that it supersedes the content of the register of voters properly compiled by the electoral body.”

    Another attempt at frustrating the use of the technological devices by the party, was to get its members in the House of Representatives to endorse the rejection of the use of the SCR and PVC.

    No fewer than 100 members of the ruling party in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, who were summoned to a nocturnal meeting in Abuja by the House Leader, Mulikat Akande and her deputy, Leo Ogor, stood their grounds that they would not lend their support to any move that could truncate the nation’s democracy.

    The devices, rejected by the PDP, became what  the international communities  treasured and upheld their use during the elections.  In the heat of the reinforced antagonism against  the devices by the PDP led government, the United States government saw the value and importance of the devices and threw its weight behind the INEC  to use them in the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    The American government through its Vice President, Joe Biden, in a statement issued by the US Embassy expressed its support for the INEC and “its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute PVC and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational.”

    Even after the elections were held, the Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, applauded the decision of the INEC to use the technology in the general elections.

    He said the PVC involved superior technology which his state of Virginia in the U.S. needed to copy.

    ”I am very impressed by the decision of INEC to use technology in this election. The Permanent Voter Cards are very high-tech. They are more high tech than my voter card from the state of Virginia in the US.

    “My voter card does not have biometric. It does not have my fingerprint. The high-tech gives the process more integrity.I congratulate INEC on taking the part of high-tech. I think we need to come and study it so that we can use it in my country,” he said.

     

    Hiccups

     

    In spite of  huge success that greeted the deployment of the devices, they were not without some hiccups. The SCR malfunctioned in different parts of the country during the presidential election. The machines for instance, could not read the finger prints of President Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the PDP and his wife, Patience.

    Jonathan was issued with Incident Form for accreditation after five SCRs failed to read his thumbprint. The First Lady was also accredited with the Incident Form.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, among others also faced similar challenge.

    The distribution of the PVCs also recorded some drawbacks as a number of the people who had the TVC could not get their PVCs before the elections and, as a result, could not vote.

    Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubarkar Tsav said the hitches were expected because it was the first time such technology was used in the country.

    ”It was normal that such hitches would come up because that was the first time such technology was used in our elections. I believe that INEC would make it work perfectly in future elections.

    ”Aside from the hitches, the deployment of  the devices was wonderful. It helped to check rigging. It was good that INEC insisted on using them because they made it impossible for anybody to manipulate the process. The idea of sitting down in one place to cook up figures was avoided with the use of the devices.”

     

     

     

    For Prof. Itse Sagay, the devices are the way forward for the country.

    “The PVC and the  SCR are very important in checking electoral fraud. A lot of this will be exposed at the tribunal especially in some states where figures were cooked up to favour some candidates.”

  • INEC workers contribute to redeeming our image, says Jega

    INEC workers contribute to redeeming our image, says Jega

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega has attributed the success of the 2015 general elections to the contributions of his members of staff.

    Jega, who spoke in Abuja, said the workers contributed immensely in salvaging the image of the commission.

    He said most of the workers were honest and decent.

    The INEC boss noted that majority of the staff, who conducted the 2007 general elections and were accused of various complicities, were the same staff used to record the victory in the conduct of the general elections.

    Jega explained that what made them different was the enabling environment, which the present leadership provided.

    He said: “Majority of INEC staff are honest people, decent people and people doing their best for their country”.

    On staff welfare, the INEC Chairman regretted that the major expectation or aspiration of the staff of the commission has not been satisfied. But he stressed that the present commission has been committed to improving the welfare of staff.

    He said: “We all know that the issue of a new salary structure in a country like Nigeria is not only too politicized, but it is an issue that successive governments handle like a hot potato. We tried our best as diplomatically as possible to explore ways and means of introducing a new salary structure. I regret that we have not been able to deliver on that major promise.”

    He assured that within the remaining 30 days left for the commission, all outstanding issues of promotion will be resolved, even as he explained that all promotions since he assumed office were done in compliance with the laws and the provisions of the Federal Character Commission.

  • INEC staff contributed to success of 2015 polls – Jega

    INEC staff contributed to success of 2015 polls – Jega

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has attributed the success of the 2015 general elections to staff of the commission.

    Jega, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, said the staff contributed immensely towards salvaging the image of the commission.

    He described the staff as honest and decent, pointing out that majority of the staff who conducted the 2007 general elections and were accused of various offences were the same people used to record the success associated with this year’s elections.

    He said: “Majority of INEC staff are honest and decent people. They did their best for the country.

    On welfare, the INEC chairman regretted that the major expectation of the staff has not been satisfied, stressing that the present commission is committed to improving the welfare of staff.

    Jega added: “We all know that the issue of a new salary structure in a country like Nigeria is not only too politicized, but it is an issue that successive governments handle like a hot potato. We tried our best to explore ways and means of introducing a new salary structure. I regret that we have not been able to deliver on that major promise.”

     

  • Jega rates 2015 polls better than 2011

    Jega rates 2015 polls better than 2011

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega, has rated the 2015 general elections better than those conducted in 2011.

    He spoke at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja when a delegation led by Ambassador of Mexico in Nigeria, Marco Antonio Garcia Blanco, visited him.

    Prof. Jega, who admitted that there was room for improvement, explained that the last general elections proved false prophets wrong.

    He said: “We are indeed very happy that our elections turned out to be well and to have been recognised both nationally and internationally as free, fair, credible and peaceful.

    “Leading to the election, some impressions had been created, particularly in the international media as if this may be the end of our country. Thank God it was doomsday prediction, which turned out to be false.”

    Prof. Jega, who was delighted by the offer to share experiences with other countries, added: “We know that the election has not been perfect; we know that it was better than 2011. But there is also a lot of scope for improvement and that is why we welcome every opportunity to visit other countries and to see how they do their own elections and to be able to exchange ideas and to also learn good practices, which we can continue to adapt to our own circumstances for continuous improvement of our own electoral process.”

    He lauded the efforts of the Mexican High Commission in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries in sharing electoral experiences.

    He urged that such bilateral relationship should be extended to other sectors.

    “You facilitated the signing of the MoU, which has been very useful. Many of our staff have benefited by participation in some conferences.  All these experiences have been useful and beneficial and we cherish the opportunity,” he said.

    Ambassador Blanco said his mission to the commission was to “transmit congratulatory message for a great job that the commission did in the last electoral process.”

    He said everybody recognised the key role played by INEC in the successes achieved in the last electoral process.

    He called on the commission’s leadership to share experience with his country, which, he said, was very important in improving the electoral process in Mexico.

    He said: “Your expertise, knowledge and wisdom will be a great asset to our electoral body. With experience sharing, Mexico will benefit a lot”.

     He advocated for continuous strengthening of existing bilateral relationship between both countries.