Prof. Attahiru Jega, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that Nigeria should enter the next election with a new law, and he has urged the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to pass the Electoral Bill so that INEC can start working on the 2023 elections right away.
Jega said this yesterday during a panel discussion at a Yiaga Africa town hall meeting on the Electoral Amendment Bill’s approval.
Jega, who stated that conducting elections in Nigeria is tough, added that the electoral framework has not improved significantly since 2010.
“I believe Nigeria should go into the next elections with a new law as there are many good things in the bill that will improve the integrity and conduct of elections.“As I have said earlier, since 2010, we have not had significant improvement in the electoral framework.
“Speaking on direct and indirect primaries, some people believe that governors do influence the outcome of indirect primaries and some feel direct primaries is a way out of this, but the question is, how many parties have credible register of members?
“Give INEC the law to begin preparations for the 2023 elections. Any governor that manipulates direct primaries under this present condition will also have the capacity to manipulate indirect primaries.
“What we are saying is that you cannot throw the baby away with the bath water. Let’s think more carefully. The good things in the bill should be signed into law immediately so that INEC can start serious work for the 2023 elections.”
“Give INEC the law to begin preparation for 2021. Drop issue of direct and indirect primaries and let’s move forward,” he said.
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