I’m not under pressure – Jega

With barely 10 days to the April polls, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday said he was not under any form of pressure. The INEC boss said this while reacting to a question by chairmen of political parties at a meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Jega also rejected a request by some political parties for copies of ballot papers to enable them sensitise their supporters. Chairmen of some of the political parties present at the meeting had earlier asked whether the ruling Peoples Democratic Party or its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, was putting him under pressure. Jega, however, said the present commission, as presently constituted, was not under any illusion about the challenges of conducting credible elections. He also maintained that most members of staff of the commission took their oaths of office seriously and were prepared to do what was necessary to deliver on the promise of free, fair and credible elections. Jega said, “Do I look like somebody under pressure? I am certainly not under any pressure. “Really, we are determined to do the right thing some of us take our oaths very seriously to do this job to the best of our ability with honour and integrity.” He expressed sadness that in spite of all the warnings he had issued, an intern of the commission in Ibadan, who was arrested with Direct Data Capture machines, did what he did. Earlier, the INEC boss displayed a sample of the ballot paper, collapsible polling booth and ballot box to be used for the April polls. But he turned down a request to hand over copies of the samples to party chairmen for voter education. Jega explained that the logo of the parties would be on the ballot to enable voters make their choice. He also said everything possible was being done to ensure that the 8 o’clock commencement time was kept. He enjoined leaders of political parties to educate their supporters on the need to keep the peace, adding that security agencies were being briefed about the growing security threats across the country. Leaders of some of the political parties present had complained that their opponents were planning to use violence to disrupt the process. By John Alechenu, Abuja Courtesy of: Punch