The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday blamed major stakeholders in the election process for allegedly working against the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.
Jega said Nigerians wanted credible and hitch-free polls but that politicians and other stakeholders, including the security agencies, had consistently frustrated the desire of the electorate to vote for the candidates of their choice.
The INEC boss said this in a key note address at a one-day workshop on “Securing the 2015 Elections” in Abuja, organised for Command Commissioners of Police by the United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the police.
“Nigerians have aspired for democracy; they have aspired for free, fair and credible election for the deepening and consolidation of democracy, but this aspiration has been continuously frustrated to the extent that one can say that many Nigerians have been wondering about whether democracy is worth it.
“Regrettably, the series of elections that we have had, the choice of the voters has in most cases been truncated. This is either by actions or inactions of the electoral commission or by the very aggressive and fraudulent conduct of participants in the electoral process,” Jega said.
According to him, in some other cases, the frustration of the voters was the result of the actions or inactions of security agencies, who were supposed to secure the electoral process.
The INEC chairman, therefore, called on all stakeholders to do what was expected of them to ensure a free, fair and credible elections in 2015.
He described the police as an important stakeholder and urged the Force to collaborate more with the commission to ensure that the forthcoming elections are devoid of crisis.
Jega also commended the police, saying they had improved on their performances so far but added that they needed to do more to secure the 2015 elections.
He said that at least three unarmed policemen and other security personnel were needed to man each polling station during the election so as to give voters the confidence to exercise their franchise.
The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, assured that the police would provide adequate security for the 2015 elections.
“The task of providing adequate security during the electoral process is one of the most daunting challenges confronting security agencies today.
“The Nigeria Police, being the lead agency, will, with the cooperation and assistance of sister agencies, do everything that it can be done to secure the electoral officers, materials and voters.”
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