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Nigerian Media should apologize for over rating Jega, -
NDP Chair
BY CHUKS EHIRIM
Newsdiaryonline Mon March 14,2011
 The
National Chairman of National Democratic Party, Prince Chudi
Chukwuani, has asked Nigerian media practitioners to apologize
to the citizens of the country for over rating the Chairman of
the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC], Prof.
Attahiru Jega.
Chukwuani, who made the demand while speaking with journalists
on the expectations of the forthcoming elections, was of the
opinion that the rating of Jega by the media and his
achievements so far as INEC chairman, are far apart, with his
rating far below his achievements.
Arguing that Jega has not taken any decision without such
a decision having a hiccup, Chukwuani said four days after the
political parties had signed the Code of Conduct for the 2011
general elections, the political parties are yet to receive any
copy of the document.
He also buttressed his argument on Jega’s administrative lacuna
to include his failure to take decision once that will stand the
test of time. His words, “No major decision has Jega taken
without hiccups on it”.
He gave instances of such decisions to include among others, the
election time able that was done twice, time frame for voter
registration, the appropriation for the voter registration and
other decisions Jega has taken as INEC chairman.
The party national chairman stated that Jega, up till date, has
not considered it worthwhile to call on the political parties,
to let them know what the ballot papers will look like.
Also the NDP national chairman condemned the multiple Code of
Conduct political parties are subjected to sign.
According to him,
outside the INEC Code of Conduct, the Nigeria Police Force, the
Presidency and the State Security Service, have invited all the
political parties on the same issue of code of conduct for the
April Elections. Chukwuani
who said his party will not honour the invitation sent in by SSS
through a telephone call, said the institutions are not sincere
in fashioning code of conduct for the political parties.
According to him it is height of irresponsibility for an
institution to make official communication with a telephone
call. He said he
received a telephone call by a person who called his name Tolani,
inviting his party for a meeting at the Headquarters of SSS
today. ''But I want to tell you we will not go because they have
not shown courtesy in their invitation'', Chukwuani said.
Speaking on some issues raised at the political parties meeting
with the Inspector General Police, Hafiz Ringim, Chukwuani said
he disagreed with the IGP on what constitute electoral crime.
The IGP had said in the
meeting that electoral offences are those committed at the
polling units and not out side the polling units.
But, Chukwuani in this interview disagreed with Ringim totally,
stating that any electoral offence committed in respect to the
election,amounts to an offence.
He also disagrees with
IGP on when an electoral offender should be arrested.
Also, the IGP in the
meeting with political parties, said only electoral officers can
identify what constitute an electoral offence and is also
allowed to direct police officers to arrest an offender.
But the NDP
Chairman questioned the IGP's logic to this position. According
to him, the police just need to train for them to know what an
electoral offence is and act independently of the electoral
officers.
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