Anambra’s political situation posed a great challenge – Jega
By BEN AGANDE & Okey Ndiribe
ABUJA — Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said yesterday that the political situation in Anambra State posed a great challenge to the commission as the situation was confusing but promised that the commission would set up a committee to investigate all the issues surrounding the matter.
Speaking on the just concluded National Assembly elections and the controversy surrounding the declaration of results for Anambra Central senatorial district, Jega said the commission would set up a committee to invite all the dramatis personae in the matter with a view to getting to the root of the matter.
According to him, Delta State is the “hottest in cases of ballot snatching and violence while Bayelsa State also poses a challenge to the commission as there were remarkable incidents of violence and compromise of the electoral process.”
He promised that INEC would collaborate with security agencies in order to ensure that more security coverage is provided in the state in subsequent election.
Issues in Anambra
Recounting the issues in Anambra, Jega said a Registration Officer absconded only to reappear after the Resident Electoral Commissioner had appointed his replacement who had declared the election inconclusive.
He noted that some influential people in Anambra State might be deliberately influencing staff of the commission, knowing that in certain circumstances after the result had been pronounced, it is only the courts and not INEC that would reverse the situation.
In Bayelsa State, Jega noted that election materials meant for a particular polling unit were moved to a serving senator’s house apparently with the connivance of INEC staff and despite warning by the commission that result from the unit should not be announced, the electoral officer went ahead to announce the results.
He said though the police and members of the special security unit, the Joint Task Force in Bayelsa State were notified about the situation, they could not effect the arrest of the serving senator who perpetrated the crime.
On the complaints received by the commission from politicians who had been defeated at the polls, Jega said he had deliberately avoided meeting with such politicians in order not to send a wrong signal about his impartiality.
Speaking on the forthcoming presidential elections, Jega said the commission had learnt from the mistakes of the last elections and would bring its experience to bear on the presidential elections.
