Former chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega said that
improving the integrity of elections is key to the democratic development of
any nation.
Jega said this in Ibadan on
Thursday while delivering a lecture to mark the 71st Foundation Day and
Convocation of the University of Ibadan.
The former INEC boss spoke on the
topic: “Towards Credible Electoral Process and Sustainable Political Systems in
Nigeria: What Role for Universities?”. He said Nigeria could achieve greater
integrity in its electoral process through the collaboration of stakeholders.
“It is generally recognised that
fortifying democracy is vital to sustainable development, but what is not as
widely acknowledged is that improving the integrity of elections is key to
democratic development. A sustainable electoral process with requite integrity
is the panacea for democratic development in Nigeria and all African countries
struggling with the challenges of democratisation.
“The Nigerian electoral process
has historically been flawed and repleted with profound challenges in all three
key phases of electoral administration pre-election, election, and
post-election phases. All stakeholders, therefore, must play a positive role in
bridging these gaps,” he said.
“Kogi and Bayelsa elections are
examples that we need a policy that will not only dowse political tension but
will proffer solutions to the political imbroglio we are experiencing in the
country presently,” he said.
The former INEC boss commended
the role of academia in raising the bar of electoral administration in Nigeria
since 2011.
He, however, called for more
collaboration by way of research, advocacy, training and mentoring of all
actors involved, particularly in inventing in-house election-related equipment
and technologies.
“Kogi and Bayelsa elections are
examples that we need a policy that will not only dowse political tension but
will proffer solutions to the political imbroglio we are experiencing in the
country presently,” he said.
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