By Bukola Olasanmi
The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has expressed serious fears about the conducts and possible outcome of the 2023 polls.
He said despite his optimistic outlook, the current spade of vandalism and hate-filled rhetoric from gladiators do not give any sign to be hopeful.
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Jega stated this in an interview with journalists at the Electoral Hub’s colloquium honoring Senior Fellow of the Centre of Democracy Development (CDD), Prof. Adele Jinadu, on his 79th birthday celebration, with the theme, ‘Adele Jinadu and Electoral Democracy in Nigeria: Knowledge Production and Praxis.’
He said “I have a lot of fears about the outcome of the election. But you see, people like me are what I call an incurable optimists about the future of our country.
“So, I remain hopeful that in spite of the recklessness that we see, in spite of the vandalism that we see perpetrated by many of our so-called leading politicians, we are hopeful that people will mobilise and become effectively engaged in the electoral process so that we have a good outcome in 2023.
“We can’t give up hope. We still have to engage because the more we engage, the more the possibility of change happening.”
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He described Jinadu as a beacon of hope for the next generation and is passionate about the need to reform Nigeria’s electoral process, emphasized the importance of academics participating actively in politics for the country’s progress and development.
Jega said Nigeria is at a critical juncture in which the promises of democratic development are being systemically undermined and eroded, Jega stated that the country requires good and knowledgeable people who believe in humanity to address the people’s fundamental needs.