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The chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, over
the weekend reiterated his commitment towards conducting credible and
acceptable elections in 2011 and promised that 2015 elections would be
one of the best in the world.

Mr. Jega, who spoke
at a roundtable discussion entitled: ‘The path to credible elections in
Nigeria’, organised in his honour by the Center for Research and
Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Kano, promised that the 2011
elections would be far better than 2003 and 2007.

“The 2011 elections
will surely be better than the 2003 and 2007 elections and in 2015, God
willing, we would have one of the best elections in the world,” he said.

The occasion was
well attended by prominent politicians and political scholars, with
former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, as chairman.

He urged Nigerians
to be part of this challenge by playing their own various roles, so as
to bring drastic transformation, stressing that individuals cannot do
it alone.

“The
responsibilities of conducting free and credible elections is for all
stakeholders and patriots to work together in order to achieve the
desired objective.

“I want to use this
opportunity to call on credible persons to join the process, because if
good persons stay away, bad people will have a field day,” he said.

The former vice
chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, also admitted that the
challenges are enormous, but insisted he was equal to the task.

Big challenge

He said after
listening to the brilliant contributions by the different speakers, he
has become more knowledgeable than he ever was on the challenges of his
new office, pointing out that his five years mandate as INEC boss would
turnaround the political landscape of the country.

“It is a big
challenge, not only to me but to all Nigerians, who should make
sacrifices to enable us bring about a credible reform process, so that
we will take our rightful place in the comity of nations,” he said.

“I did not lobby
for this position. I never thought about it but it came on its own, so
I have no choice than to put in my best to give Nigeria the best of
leadership in the next dispensation.

“As a Muslim, I
swore by the holy Quran and I will stand by the oath I have taken. In
certain circumstances, our best may not be good enough and this why it
is indeed a collective responsibility of all major stakeholders to
ensure a free, fair, and credible election in 2011,” Mr. Jega said.

Mr. Belgore advised
Mr. Jega to make sure that voters registration exercise commence
immediately, stressing that time is no longer on his side and that if
it means soliciting for foreign assistance he should not hesitate.

Mr. Belgore also
supported the establishment of electoral offices tribunal, as contained
in the Muhammadu Uwais electoral reform report. He said it would
eradicate the issue of hooliganism during elections.

The chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, Festus Okoye,
called for a new constitutional framework and credible voters register,
among others, to ensure credible elections in 2011.