INEC Responds To Critics That "Tar Its Reputation"

 


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to the media reports that "tar the reputation" of its leadership and particularly its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, saying that the allegations are groundless. 


This information is contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 3, by Chief Press Secretary Hon. Chairman, Kayode R. Idowu.

The statement says the "campaign", which aimed to discredit the INEC leadership, has had the form of "reports of alleged financial misdeeds, either directly committed or approved by the Chairman of the Commission". The INEC dismissed these reports as "wild allegations" lacking evidence, adding that some of them "crossed the line of journalistic decorum, and are accordingly being processed for libel litigation."

The statement further disclosed that INEC possesses information that the campaign is planned to intensify: "There are reportedly designs to upscale the plot into public displays of hostility towards INEC, such as through rented street rallies against its present leadership, among other measures."

According to the press statement, the media attack aims to call into question credibility and ability of the Nigeria's main electoral body to conduct 2015 General Election in accordance with international standards. The Commission, however, reconfirmed that despite the challenges it stays committed to "deliver elections that will be world class in fairness and credibility".

It also called all other relevant stakeholders to support INEC in its mission:  "the Commission must here again restate, as it has always done, that it cannot do it alone. It therefore pleads with other stakeholders, especially politicians, to equally commit to this cause."

The statement, however, does not specify the reports that, according to the Commission, aim to discredit it.