What Attahiru Jega Said About Nigeria’s Election, INEC, Security Agencies

The former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has urged the body to review extant laws to further deepen democracy in Nigeria.

This, he said yesterday while presenting a paper at a one-day National Democracy Day Anti-Corruption Summit held in Abuja.

Jega’s paper was titled “Curbing Electoral Spending And Voter Inducement In Nigeria: The Role Of Regulatory And Law Enforcement Agencies”.

He recommended that more attention should be given to the strengthening of campaign finances and legislation against vote buying.

“The objective is to impose limits on the campaign and general political finance spending and impose stiff penalties for none compliance,” he said.

He added that corporate contributions to political parties and candidates should be banned in other to achieve the above.

Jega further recommended that the relative independence of security and anti-corruption agencies, as well as INEC, should be strengthened.

“This is to monitor political actors and enforce compliance with legal requirements of campaign financing and vote-buying in the Constitution and the Electoral Act without fear, partiality or favour,” he said.

Adding that “All hands need to be on deck to protect and defend the integrity of elections in the country,”