Politics
2019: Jega faults amended timetable, says it undermines INEC’s independence
Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has faulted the amendment of the election timetable by the National Assembly.
Jega said the action undermined the independence of the electoral body and its powers as provided in the constitution.
He said this on Thursday while speaking at an event organised by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Development, in Abuja.
In the amended election timetable recently adopted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the National Assembly election will come first, followed by governorship and state house of assembly elections before the presidential election.
Jega warned against actions that undermine Nigeria’s democracy, noting that there could be reversal to democratic gains if appropriate steps were not taken.
He added that if carried out, the re-ordered timetable would result in more cost of conducting elections.
“We should not do anything to undermine the democratic process, thus we need to keep on adding value to the process,” he said.
The former INEC chair said for the nation’s democratic process to remain intact, there is the need to mobilise Nigerians in towns and villages to be part of the electoral process.
He called on civil society organisations to reinforce their commitment to mobilise voters to come out to vote during elections.
Jega added, “Whatever we do, we should remember where we are coming from which is as a result of sweat and blood of our compatriots.
“Our challenges are difficult but not impossible to address. It’s imperative that we find ways to contain the excesses of our politicians come 2019 elections, otherwise their excesses will keep undermining the electoral processes.”
RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears
Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...