INEC WATCH: “Yes there are fraudulent people in the Commission” – Jega

Attahiru Jega, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, has said that there are bad eggs within the  Commission that perpetrate fraudulent acts during elections. He also said that offending officers had either been dismissed, and/or prosecuted, depending on the severity of the offence

He said this yesterday in Abuja as the Commission unveiled their Strategic Programme of Action for 2012 – 2016; the Commission received a lot of criticism from stakeholders and politicians in attendance.

Jega said: “INEC officials are not immune to prosecution. Since we came here, as a Commission we have prosecuted INEC officials, who have been clearly found guilty of breaching established laws, rules and regulations and we have also quietly shown people the way out. Probably, it was not well advertised.

“There were many people who were indicted who were not faithful due to criminal activities which clearly were incompatible with the objectives and responsibility that they were supposed to bring to this job. We have retired people.

“We have dismissed people and asked people to withdraw their services. We have done a lot quietly and it is not something that really should have been advertised.

“We made it very clear as a Commission and I think in one of the interactive sessions we had with staff of INEC, we made it very clear to them that we are drawing the line.

“We said we were not looking for fault. We will not do anything wrong or ask anybody to do anything wrong and if anybody should do anything wrong, he will have him or herself to blame. And that has been our guiding principle. It has helped tremendously.

“No doubt, I must share with you that my own assessment of what has happened is that in INEC previously, certainly there were a few bad eggs who had done things and things they had done had more or less damaged the image of the entire members of the Commission.

“It is really a terrible thing that has happened. And it is very, very clear that majority of staff of INEC are honest people doing honest job under very difficult circumstances. All they required was motivation and encouragement and inspiration from the conduct of those who are placed in positions of responsibility.”

Nothing wrong with admitting you have fallen short. Next thing is to root them out, with punishment that will serve as deterrents to prevent reoccurrence.