Jega: Nigeria should go into the next elections with a new law

Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says Nigeria ought to go into the next election with a new law.

He said this at a Citizens’ Townhall meeting on the Electoral Bill, 2021, organised by YIAGA Africa in Abuja, on Sunday.

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Jega, who said it is difficult to conduct elections in Nigeria, added that since 2010, there has not been a significant improvement in the electoral framework.

He said while there could be some grey areas in the Electoral Bill that President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to, there are other good things in the bill, arguing that the baby should not be thrown away with the bath water.

“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 a 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.”