Nigeria’s Democracy under threat, says Jega

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By Chimezie Godfrey

The Former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, has said that Nigeria’s Democracy is under threat.

He made this assertion on Thursday at Abuja, while speaking on the state of democracy in Nigeria, during the first quarter forum of YIAGA Africa#WatchingtheVote Election Series, with the theme:’Is Nigeria’s Democracy under threat?’

“One of the biggest threats that we are facing is the recklessness of the politicians…

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“We need to reflect on the fact that scholars have classified countries in the world in terms of matured democracy and also democratizing countries. And among those countries classified as democratizing, some are classified as fragile democracy. And I think it is very important for us to recognize that Nigeria is one of those countries characterized as a fragile democracy.

“If our democracy is fragile, obviously the question is what are the threats and what can we do to ensure that the threats do not undermine our democratization process and do not result in an authoritarian reversal that can take us back several years before we can get back on track,” he said.
Jega also reaffirmed the fact that he has no regret over the role he played during the 2015 election as recently alleged by an online medium. “I want to use this opportunity to reaffirm that I do not regret anything that I did during the 2015 election. I can never shy away from what I believe in regardless of how others may take it or interpret it.” he said.

On the sequence of election, Chief (Barr.) Dan Nwanyanwu, former Chairman of Labour party, said, “If they are not happy with what is in the amendment bill I suggest that we start from the bottom-up, that is from the State House of Assembly to the Presidential election or I will propose that the whole election should be done in one day, so that everybody will answer his father’s name.

“Those who are saying it is targeted on the president have something to hide, most of them know that they won’t be where they are today if not for President Buhari. Most of them who are Governors, Senators, House of Reps, people don’t know them. They voted for the President, they want to hide under the President.” he said.

The session of was moderated by Seun Okinbaloye from Chanels Television. Other dignitaries that attended the forum were, the Executive Director,Proactive Gender Initiative, Esther Uzoma, chairman, Partners for electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagu, the Country Director,T I, Audrey McCtcheon, the Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, Idayat Hassan, Country Director, Center for Democracy & Accountability, among others.

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