Atiku Admires Jega’s Enviable Record As INEC Chairman

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed admiration for the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega whose tenure ends this week.
Atiku said that the successful conduct of the 2015 elections with the introduction of Card Reader and Permanent Voters Card (PVC) had tremendously boosted Jega’s reputation and earned him the respect of Nigerians and the international community.
A statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mazi Paul Ibe quoted as saying that Jega had disarmed even the worst pessimists that never gave him the slightest chance to produce free and fair elections in Nigeria.
Atiku said that Jega had made a huge difference in the conduct of credible elections, and that he left no one in doubt that he deserved the appointment in the first place.
According to him, Jega’s remarkable comportment, patience, calmness and presence of mind under very tense situations were very impressive.
The former Vice President noted that Jega had set a standard that would require his successor to work twice as hard to maintain his record and build on it.
In particular, Atiku recalled that some pessimists were already signing the requiem of Nigerian’s demise with the 2015 elections, the ominous deadline for the country’s alleged disintegration.
He said that at every turn, Jega rose to the occasion even in the face formidable challenges.
The former Vice President said it was not how many years an official spent in office that matters, but how he was able to make an impact within the scope of the opportunity he had to serve his country.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader said that Professor Jega didn’t disappoint Nigerians, and that history would write a favourable verdict on his impressive record.
He called on the person that will take over from him to keep the flag flying, especially by pushing for reforms that might strengthen the Electoral Act and deepen democracy.
According to Atiku, reforming the Electoral Act would go a long way to consolidate our democratic gains, and build on the efforts to achieve credible elections. [myad]