Photo: Prof. Attahiru Jega

By John Shiklam 

Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, has stated that unless politicians do away with their do-or-die attitude and crooked means of winning elections at all cost, the credibility of elections would always be undermined.

He lamented that the greatest challenge towards the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, is the general tendency among some politicians who are bent on winning election by hook or by crook, stressing that unless the politicians changed their unpatriotic attitude, the integrity of elections will always be undermined no matter the efforts of the commission in ensuring credible elections.

Jega who featured as a guest on the personality progrmme of the Kaduna-based Liberty radio  maintained that some of these politician always want to persuade the officials of the commission to do them favour, adding that if such overtures fail, the politicians will want to intimidate, harass or threaten the officials.

This, according to him, is “obviously the mentality of do or die, or winning by hook or crook means which is a dominant tendency in the mindset of politicians in Nigeria.

Jega said “this has to change because if it does not change, no matter what adequate and efficient preparation of the commission the integrity of the election will always be undermined.” He however said nobody has ever intimidated or attempted to influence or bribe him to manipulate elections results in the country.

Source: This Day