As election approaches, the
chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor
Attahiru Jega, has advised the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs),
to remain focused and be neutral in all their activities in order to give the
nation a credible, free and fair election that will be acceptable to all and
sundry.
Professor Jega, who spoke at the
quarterly meeting with the RECs in Abuja, urged them to provide a level
playing field for all the political parties and the stakeholders.
According to him, “all eyes
are on us as we prepare for 2015 elections and we have made commitment to the
Nigerian people that 2015 general election will be much better than 2011.”
He noted that as the elections
drew closer, the political atmosphere would be agog with activities,
hence the need for the RECs to remain focused.
Said he, “as the 2015
elections draw closer, we have the enormous responsibility to deliver on the
promise of free, fair and credible elections, no doubt, the closer we get, the
more heated the political atmosphere becomes.”
Professor Jega, who pointed
out that the commission was not out to satisfy anybody or a political
party to deepen democracy, said “some will be happy, some will be angry,
some will praise us and some will condemn us.”
He stressed the need for
compliance with permissible laws and standards in giving Nigerians the best
elections in the country’s history, saying “the most important thing is for us
to satisfy our conscience that whatever we do, we should do it in full
compliance with the legal framework and the best expected standards of ethical
conduct.’’
