The independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega has said the Commission has put measures in place that will make it difficult for politicians in the country to rig the 2015 elections.
He also added that the insecurity in the country notwithstanding, no part of the country will be disenfranchised during the elections.
Jega stated this in an exclusive interview with THISDAY in United States where he went to monitor the mid-term elections, saying that the Commission will repeat all the good things it did in 2011.
“We shall be using card readers which we believe will add tremendous integrity to the electoral system. We are using NYSC, lawyers and retired judges. We are bringing more people of integrity. We did biometric registration and we issued permanent voter cards. The idea is to use card readers with electronic chips that will help identify the person who was actually registered,” he said.
The INEC boss also said politicians would no longer be able to buy cards or use the cards of dead people to vote.
“The biometric card reader will add tremendous integrity to the electoral system. We have used eight months to clean up the register, which is one of the best in the African continent.
“We are saying that in 2015, if anybody rigs the election, that person will be apprehended and punished. Rigging will not determine the electoral fortunes of anybody. Let me also add that from all perspective, operationally and logistically, we are ready for the 2015 elections from the perspective of the electoral management body and we are working closely with all stake holders to address some of the outstanding challenges.
“Security is a major challenge. However, we are working with the security network to ensure that elections are held in every part of Nigeria including the North-east. We implore everyone to come out and register and elect the right people to office. My advice is that all stakeholders should be actively engaged in the process and stop being sarcastic but should work towards ensuring the true choice of the people emerge in 2015.
“We have done so many things including cleaning up the register of voters. In 2011, we had barely eight months to clean up the register but now we had four years to do this and we put the four years to good use.”
Jega said the mid-term elections he monitored has afforded him a rich repertoire of experiences which have evolved over 200 years with so much trust and confidence that no one suspects the electoral bodies of compromise.
Jega further said that during a press conference at the Nigerian Embassy, several electoral Commissioners who monitored the US mid term elections applauded the progress the Nigerian electoral system has made since 1999.
He said: “We have to earn the confidence and trust of voters in our country. Sadly Nigerian politicians suspect everything we do but we have to make it clear we are working towards a transparent electoral system, letting them k now we work towards having a level playing field for everybody.”
“I feel bad because in Nigerian politics, people bandy all sorts of allegations and when it comes to your territory you have to defend yourself. When I am accused of doing what I did not do, I feel bad but all I need to do is to clarify the issues with additional information. But the mischievous remains unrelenting. I am not a religious bigot. I have conducted myself as chairman of INEC with impartiality and non-partisan ship along with other INEC national commissioners. We are working together to deliver the best election for our country. So we refuse to be distracted.”
Reacting to complaints by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola on the distribution of Permanent Voter card, Jega said what the commission did was to produce enough cards for all local governments and that if any one has not gotten, it means the cards were not ready.
“Nine local governments in Lagos State were not excluded. We distribute cards that are ready within a time frame. Any cards not distributed are sent to the local government headquarters. It is not possible to exclude anyone based on religion because there are two electoral commissioners from each zone and decisions are taken collectively. I have never taken a decision on my own to the exclusion of these zonal commissioners each of whom holds a sensitive position in the electoral body.” (DP)
