Jega: Why We’ve Had Failed Elections

  Ugochukwu Ezeagwula   

Newly appointed chairman of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, yesterday said one of the reasons Nigeria has continued to fail in the conduct of elections was because the totality of the process culminating in the exercise are usually left in the hands of people with ulterior motives while well meaning Nigerians voluntarily stayed away.
Also yesterday, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, defended attempts by some sections of the country to blame the judiciary for the failure of the electoral process. He said judges are not God and would have to depend on the submissions before them in delivering judgements.

Jega, who spoke in Kano at a lecture organised in his honour by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training with the theme: “The Path To Credible Election in Nigeria,” said for as long as such acts of indifference persists amongst genuine and patriotic Nigerians, “bad people will always have a filled day and the results will continue to be the same.”
“I think every Nigerian also recognises that the responsibility of ensuring free, fair and credible elections in this country is not the responsibility of INEC chairman alone or the INEC itself. We all have to work together, sincerely, honestly and patriotically as citizens and ensure we bring about free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

While promising a better deal in next year’s elections provided the right attitude is cultivated by Nigerians, Jega said the success of the present INEC rests on all the stakeholders as well as “friends of Nigeria wherever they are and our development partners.”
“We would need your prayers; we would need your support, we would need your encouragement and beyond this, we would need your active participation in the political process. If good people stay away, bad people will have a filed day and I think that is what has been happening in our country.

“I urge all of you good people out there; please let us together take this as a challenge. Everybody has a positive role to play and let us come out to play that positive role. If we do that, then free, fair and credible elections is possible come 2011, Insha Allah,” Jega said.
The professor of political science maintained that he is “optimistic of the fact that the country is highly mature to conduct a credible election. I will do everything possible to work in harmony with all others to achieve positive result, but as an individual, there is a limit to what we can do.
“I know the task is formidable. I have no illusions about how difficult this task is going to be but I also know that although it is difficult, it is not an impossible task. And together, with the help of the Almighty God- our maker; we believe that we can turn it around.”

Jega, who was beaming with confidence, said: “We can certainly make 2011 much better than 2007, 2003 and 1999. I believe if we are able to do that, then we will definitely make 2015 even much better and have the freest and fairest of election ever.”
Belgore, who was also at the event, staunchly defended his constituency, the judiciary and frowned at a situation whereby people castigate the judiciary on the way election judgements are passed.
He noted that judges should be respected for the wisdom they applied in adjudicating intricate electoral matters.
He also noted that unless there is a complete change of attitude, the courts might continue to be helpless in cases involving disputed elections.