Nigeria will conduct election next year in spite of challenges, says Atahiru Jega

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Prof. Atahiru Jega, a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assured Nigerians that he has no fears whether the 2023 elections will hold.

Jega said he remained optimism that Nigeria will conduct a credible election in spite of the current challenges.

The former INEC boss spoke on Wednesday at a Colloquim in honor of Prof.Adele Jinadu, a Senior fellow of the Center of Democracy Development (CDD), to mark his 79th birthday celebration.

The former INEC chairman noted that in spite of increasing attacks on the facilities of INEC and violence recorded at political campaigns, he was optimistic about a credible election.

“I have a lot of fears about the outcome of the election, but I am an incurable optimist about the future of our country.

“So I remain hopeful that in spite of the recklessness that we see, in spite of the vandalism that we see perpetrated by many of our so-called leading politicians.

“We are hopeful that people will mobilize and become effectively engaged in the electoral process so that we have a good outcome in 2023.

“We can’t give up hope. We still have to engage because the more we engage, the more the possibility of change happening,” he stated.

Jega described Jinadu as a beacon of hope for the next generation passionate about the need to reform Nigeria’s electoral process.

He said there was a need for the academia to participate actively in politics for the progress and development of the country.

“Nigeria is at a very critical junction when the promises of democratic development are being systemically undermined and eroded.

“The nation is in need of good and knowledgeable people who believe in humanity to address the fundamental need of the people like Jinadu.

“Jinadu did not bury his head in the university system but is also very active in sharing knowledge and experience in order to reform our politics to clean up our electoral system, and to ensure that we have good governance in this country,” he said.

Former INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Okey Ibeanu, on his part, said the 2023 election would be very important in defining the future of the country.

Ibeanu expressed optimism that the current happenings in the political space, especially the attacks on INEC facilities would not affect the conduct of the poll.