Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega has warned Nigerians not to return either the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to power in 2023.
Jega, who alleged the two parties have failed to bring the desired growth and development in Nigeria in the last 20 years, said PDP and APC are like Siamese twins of corruption. He said it was high time Nigerians looked for a credible alternative.
The former INEC Chairman while speaking in an interview on the Hausa service of the BBC on Monday said “Nigerians should dump the two parties because of their bad antecedents over the last 20 years. Looking at their inability to change the economic fortunes of Nigeria for 20 years now, it is now apparently clear that they would not do anything even if Nigerians vote for any of the two parties again.
“The bad things these parties committed in those past years, Nigerians should never give their trust to the parties again. It is now very clear that these parties would never change, even if they are given another chance.
“The APC and PDP have formed governments, we were all witnesses. They did not come with a good intention to make amends. If you look at the fight against corruption, all these corrupt people that were supposed to be prosecuted, they sneaked into the APC.
“We are hearing nothing. That is why I have since registered with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). I am now a PRP member looking for ways to help Nigeria.
“That is why we believe now is the time to establish a platform where every good Nigerian should join and contribute towards building the nation on the right path,” he said.
He alleged those in the major parties have destroyed everything and had made the parties so stigmatised that whichever good person joins the parties would be considered like them.
He said that was why “it has now become imperative to have a new platform where good Nigerians will constitute the membership.”
Jega also alleged it was lack of good leadership that threw the nation into its current problems, which have led to the series of agitations for the country to be balkanised.
“Since 1979, I have been teaching in the university for 40 years now. So, from what I read and observed, when I was Chairman of INEC, honestly the way I see our politicians conducting elections and from the manner they represent their people when elected, honestly it is something to be afraid of,” he said.