2015: We Need To Work More For Credible, Fair Polls – Inec Chairman

As preparations heat up towards the 2015 elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega has stated that more challenging work would be required in order to actualize the culture of free and fair elections in the country.
The INEC boss said this in Sokoto while welcoming members of the joint committees of both the upper and the lower arms of the National Assembly to a retreat on “INEC/Electoral Matters,” at Giginya Coral Hotel yesterday.
Jega stated that the retreat was aimed at updating both the Senate and House of Representatives Committees, on INEC’s plans and preparations and to “bridge any kind of communication gaps that may have existed.”
According to him, although INEC had improved on the conduct of elections since 2011, the outcome had not pleased every Nigerian.
”We all know that there is a lot more challenging work to be done to institutionalise a culture of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in our country, devoid of lawlessness and impunity with outcomes that are overwhelmingly acceptable to the electorate,” he said.
According to him, “managing and reforming the electoral process, especially in Nigeria is a very challenging task for many reasons,” adding that “we have to re-double our efforts and keep on putting in place mechanisms and processes that would lead to greater successes.