By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Immediate past National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has commended the National Assembly (NASS) for the change of heart in endorsing electronic transmission of election results as demanded by Nigerians.
He also said the two chambers of NASS should go further to repeal all the clauses in the Electoral Law which could still limit the electoral umpire from going the whole hug to use technology to deepen the nation’s democracy.
According to him: “There are still some gray areas in the Electoral Law that will not allow INEC to discharge its duties fully as mischievous politicians who failed at the polls will exploit and they will go to court to get judgement “.
He insists that the move will deepen democracy in Nigeria, adding that the use of technology to conduct elections will drastically reduce manipulation of election results by corrupt politicians and their collaborators.
Said he: “the adoption of e-transmission of election results by INEC will go a long way to reduce to the barest minimum the rigging associated with manual tabulation of election results”.
Prof Jega however criticised NASS for forcing Direct Primary elections on political parties, pointing out that none of the political parties in Nigeria including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have proper party members register.
Said he: “It is not the duty of the Legislative arm of government to impose on political parties the type of primary elections they will adopt. It is my view that Nigeria is not riped for Direct Primary elections because of the huge resources required to execute it.”
“Also, you cannot do Direct Primary elections without properly compiled party membership register. Which of the political parties can boast of having variable properly compiled party membership register. It’s too costly. You can only be a Dangote or Otedola to contest elections in Nigeria, except Nigeria is practising Plutocracy, government of the wealthiest”.
Meanwhile, the former INEC boss said he has joined an existing political party to actualize his dream of effecting a change in the way Nigerians are currently being governed.
According to him: “those of us called the intellectual elites cannot continue to ‘siddon look’ while our country is being mis-ruled by people who do not have what it takes to pull the nation back from precipice. We have made a mistake to seat idle while our country is destroyed by bad leaders”.
