By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—CHAIRMAN of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Monday, attributed engagement of political parties in irregularities during conduct of primaries at various levels to lack of clear-cut constitutional mandate on the commission to monitor parties during primaries.

This was even as he expressed fears that unpleasant conduct, especially inciting comments by politicians, contrary to INEC Code of Conduct were serious threats to the peaceful, free and fair conduct of the 2015 general elections.

Jega, whose message was contained in a keynote address he delivered at the INEC-Traditional Rulers National Summit on Peaceful Elections, held in Abuja, particularly blamed Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2011, as amended, saying the section made the commission’s hands tight, by asking it not to interfere in pre-primary matters of political parties.

He said political parties were relying on the section of the act to perpetuate irregularities during conduct of their primaries without regard to internal democracy.

The INEC boss regretted that political parties sometimes, without genuine reasons, replace candidates who won at the primaries with politicians who did not really participate and forward same to INEC as their candidates, insisting that since the provision of the Electoral Act did not mandate it to insist on the names of the real winners, it could not act on any list forwarded to it.

To this end, he said the commission had since made recommendations to the National Assembly to amend the provision of the act and called on the legislature to expedite action towards making amendment before February 14, 2015.

Jega, while also accusing politicians of violating the code of conduct, advised traditional rulers to act fast by calling them to order since, according to him, they were their subjects.