The Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Attahiru Jega has said that some politicians in the country are threatening the conduct of peaceful elections with their actions.
Jega also criticized the politicians for heating up the polity despite the proximity of the elections.
The
INEC Chairman stated this on Thursday, March 12 during a meeting with
representatives of registered political parties in Abuja.
Jega
urged all candidates to “live up to the spirit and letter of the peace
accord” they had signed adding that it was “unfortunate that because of
the actions of some political parties with some candidates, a lot of
tension has already been raised.”
He also stated that “the attitude of candidates may affect whether we will have peaceful elections.”
The INEC Chairman also said that the postponement of the elections had afforded the commission more time to prepare.
“We
believe we are adequately prepared for the elections as we seize the
six weeks extension to make supplementary preparations, which we believe
will add value to the elections,” Jega said.
“We believe
that the period of extension has offered us an opportunity to further
perfect the electoral process for the delivery of free, fair, credible
and peaceful elections to the satisfaction of yearnings and aspirations
of Nigerians,” he added.
Nigeria’s general elections were
postponed in February after security agencies said that they would be
too busy fighting the Boko Haram insurgency to provide protection during
the polls
