On Wednesday April 13, 2011 after the successful conduct of the National Assembly elections the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, had a meeting with resident electoral officers from all states of the federation to appraise the NASS election. This meeting was followed by a press conference.

The professor in a fulfilled mood reappraises last Saturday’s elections as successful generally. He was full of praises for the electoral officers in the field but acknowledged that there were isolated incidences of awkward and unlawful practices in some wards and polling units, and gave a strong word of warning to electoral officers, party agents and security agents who are in anyway indicted in any illegality.  INEC will not cover up any of its officers who conduct his or herself in an unlawful way, the professor reassured Nigerians.

The professor stated some of the challenges faced by INEC during the NASS election such as late arrival of INEC personnel to some polling units, the omission of some names on the voters register in a few wards and problem of crowd control during voters’ accreditation and voting processes itself. There were also reported cases of threats to the lives of some INEC ad hoc staff and corps members in the process of discharging their duties. To all of these problems the commission promised to take measures to minimise such occurrences.

For the first time, in a long while, Nigerians can finally take a breath of relief for having someone like Jega at the helm of affairs of such a sensitive body. We have got in him a man who is self-secured enough to postpone a national election, regardless of a possible nationwide criticism, in order to do the right thing. He is also not sweeping the shortcomings at the INEC under the carpets as he openly takes responsibility for them.

His modesty is something to behold and emulate. His deeds, so far, has done more for the image of this country than all the effort put into the re-branding Nigeria project. This man, unlike most of our public office holders, is not after cheap popularity. It is time for Nigerians, particularly the Nigerian youth, to accept that it is possible to do what is right and still win as evidenced by the success of the NASS election.[/b]


http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=32188