Main PageThe Independent Nigeria Electoral Commission Boss Professor Atairu Jega’s exit and the future
The shameful conduct of the 2007 general election, which
was widely adjudged to be the worst in the history of
Nigeria, greatly diminished the country's standing in the
comity of democratic nations. Every stage of the election,
from the registration of voters to the announcement of
results, was brazenly manipulated. It was roundly
condemned by both local and international observers for
failing to meet national, regional and international
standards. Even the late President Umaru Yar' Adua, who
was the most prominent beneficiary of the election, publicly
admitted that it was a flawed exercise. It was generally seen
as a national
embarrassment.
The realisation that Nigeria could not afford a repeat
performance of such a disgraceful outing in the 2011
election prompted former President Goodluck Jonathan to
carry out the search that produced Professor Attahiru Jega
who was the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano
and who had also served as the national president of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). With Jega's
impressive antecedents, not a few of his friends and admirers
would have been worried that he was putting his good
name at stake by accepting the job. Such a concern would
have arisen from the sordid nature of Nigerian politics
which has always made election administration a difficult
and thankless assignment.
The quest of Nigerian politicians for political offices is not
informed by the interest to serve but by a rabid desire for
personal aggrandisement and self enrichment. They have
made the position of chief electoral umpire a graveyard of
integrity because nothing to them is too mean to achieve
their political objectives.
In Jega's five years on the hot seat, he conducted two
elections - in 2011 and 2015. The 2011 election was
expensive and he came in for a lot of flak from various
quarters for different reasons. While the election was not
without its inadequacies, it was widely accepted because it
was a far cry from the day light robbery of 2007.
The amalgamation of three opposition political groups to
form one formidable political party served as an indication
that the 2015 election was going to be a fierce contest. The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under
Jega's leadership rose to the occasion by introducing
innovations that greatly enhanced the credibility of the
election.
Jega stuck to his gun in the face of pressures and saw to the
effective execution of the various stages of the election as
planned by the electoral body. He pressed into service
notable individuals who had their names to protect. He
drew extensively from his primary constituency - the
universities - in the final stages of the various elections.
He made use of vice chancellors and other university
officials - academic and administrative - as returning
officers.
During the last election, he countermanded the order of the
inspector-general of police who attempted to abridge the
people's right to ensure that their votes counted. He
maintained that voters had the right to stay at their polling
units to witness the counting of the ballots at the end of
voting. The elections conducted by Jega were, of course,
not perfect as elections can hardly ever be. He, however,
gave a good account of himself in performing the delicate
assignment.
Jega's integrity is underscored by the fact that he gave out
his daughter in marriage during the election period and he
made it a low-profile affair. It was an event at which
politicians would have been falling over themselves to
make a strong impression. He left no one in doubt about his
intention to return to his job as a university teacher at the
end of his five-year tour of duty at INEC. He did not give
room for any speculation about his immediate or future
plans. He conducted himself as a man of honour.
Many of Jega's predecessors came into office unblemished
but had their reputation sullied before the end of their
tenure. It is noteworthy that Jega has been able to navigate
the difficult terrain of Nigeria's desperate politicians and
dirty politics and has come out of it with his integrity
intact. The mature manner in which he handled Orubebe's
tantrums, during the state-by-state announcement of
presidential election results, showed the strength of his
character. He listened for so long and said so little and the
little he said meant so much. He demonstrated the virtue in
patience.
The image of INEC was in tatters at the time Jega took over
as its chairman in 2010. The marked improvement in
election administration under Jega's watch has brought
about a change for the better in the general perception of
the electoral body. We hope that Jega's successors will
further raise the bar and make democracy more meaningful
in Nigeria. Chief electoral umpires should have the guts to
stand their ground and do what is right; that is what we
expect from Jega's successor.
was widely adjudged to be the worst in the history of
Nigeria, greatly diminished the country's standing in the
comity of democratic nations. Every stage of the election,
from the registration of voters to the announcement of
results, was brazenly manipulated. It was roundly
condemned by both local and international observers for
failing to meet national, regional and international
standards. Even the late President Umaru Yar' Adua, who
was the most prominent beneficiary of the election, publicly
admitted that it was a flawed exercise. It was generally seen
as a national
embarrassment.
The realisation that Nigeria could not afford a repeat
performance of such a disgraceful outing in the 2011
election prompted former President Goodluck Jonathan to
carry out the search that produced Professor Attahiru Jega
who was the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano
and who had also served as the national president of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). With Jega's
impressive antecedents, not a few of his friends and admirers
would have been worried that he was putting his good
name at stake by accepting the job. Such a concern would
have arisen from the sordid nature of Nigerian politics
which has always made election administration a difficult
and thankless assignment.
The quest of Nigerian politicians for political offices is not
informed by the interest to serve but by a rabid desire for
personal aggrandisement and self enrichment. They have
made the position of chief electoral umpire a graveyard of
integrity because nothing to them is too mean to achieve
their political objectives.
In Jega's five years on the hot seat, he conducted two
elections - in 2011 and 2015. The 2011 election was
expensive and he came in for a lot of flak from various
quarters for different reasons. While the election was not
without its inadequacies, it was widely accepted because it
was a far cry from the day light robbery of 2007.
The amalgamation of three opposition political groups to
form one formidable political party served as an indication
that the 2015 election was going to be a fierce contest. The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under
Jega's leadership rose to the occasion by introducing
innovations that greatly enhanced the credibility of the
election.
Jega stuck to his gun in the face of pressures and saw to the
effective execution of the various stages of the election as
planned by the electoral body. He pressed into service
notable individuals who had their names to protect. He
drew extensively from his primary constituency - the
universities - in the final stages of the various elections.
He made use of vice chancellors and other university
officials - academic and administrative - as returning
officers.
During the last election, he countermanded the order of the
inspector-general of police who attempted to abridge the
people's right to ensure that their votes counted. He
maintained that voters had the right to stay at their polling
units to witness the counting of the ballots at the end of
voting. The elections conducted by Jega were, of course,
not perfect as elections can hardly ever be. He, however,
gave a good account of himself in performing the delicate
assignment.
Jega's integrity is underscored by the fact that he gave out
his daughter in marriage during the election period and he
made it a low-profile affair. It was an event at which
politicians would have been falling over themselves to
make a strong impression. He left no one in doubt about his
intention to return to his job as a university teacher at the
end of his five-year tour of duty at INEC. He did not give
room for any speculation about his immediate or future
plans. He conducted himself as a man of honour.
Many of Jega's predecessors came into office unblemished
but had their reputation sullied before the end of their
tenure. It is noteworthy that Jega has been able to navigate
the difficult terrain of Nigeria's desperate politicians and
dirty politics and has come out of it with his integrity
intact. The mature manner in which he handled Orubebe's
tantrums, during the state-by-state announcement of
presidential election results, showed the strength of his
character. He listened for so long and said so little and the
little he said meant so much. He demonstrated the virtue in
patience.
The image of INEC was in tatters at the time Jega took over
as its chairman in 2010. The marked improvement in
election administration under Jega's watch has brought
about a change for the better in the general perception of
the electoral body. We hope that Jega's successors will
further raise the bar and make democracy more meaningful
in Nigeria. Chief electoral umpires should have the guts to
stand their ground and do what is right; that is what we
expect from Jega's successor.
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