‘INEC Worried Over Violation Of Electoral Code’

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has expressed worries over the forthcoming 2015 general election.

The INEC chairman said the major challenge facing the commission now is to see how to make the political gladiators respect the code of conducts they signed.

He spoke on Monday at the 9th Public Lecture of the Electoral Institute (TEI) and INEC with the theme: “Youth and Electoral Violence In Africa: Lesson for Nigeria,” held in Abuja.

He reiterated that hate messages promotes violence and hence the need to keep by the rules of the game which would obviously help to promote peace.

“The challenge is mediating among politicians to respect the code of conduct that they have signed,” Jega said.

As part of the efforts to reduce hate messages, he said the commission would be meeting with traditional rulers to assist in passing the message of peace.

He also noted that the commission will improve its voter education programme.

Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Funmi Olonisakin, Director, African Leadership Centre (ALC), Kings College, University of London, warned against deployment of security operates during elections without training them properly on electoral process.

She said, “As much as possible, security personnel should not be deployed unless INEC has certified that they have received electoral security training.”

This, she explained is different from standard operating procedures of the police.”