Jega faults Buhari’s corruption fight, warns against reelection of APC, PDP

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has warned Nigerians against reelecting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and current opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into office in subsequent elections.

Jega, INEC’s chairman between 2010 and 2015, gave the warning in an interview with BBC Hausa.

He faulted the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He said the ruling party is silent once persons that stole in previous government join the APC.

“If you look at the fight against corruption, all the people who are said to be thieves will be punished because they stole under the PDP, now they have defected to the APC, and you are silent.

“That is why we think it is time to create a platform for all good people to return to, to contribute to the cause of change in Nigeria.”

The former INEC chairman cited the failure of the two dominant political parties in making Nigeria better despite being at the helms of leadership for 20 years.

PDP ruled Nigeria from its return to civil rule in 1999 till 2015. APC will remain in power till Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

Jega said the negative role played by the two parties over the years was a clear indication that there was no need to trust them again that it would change the landscape if they were given another chance right in the future.

“So since these corrupt people have blocked everything, to the point that even if you are a good person if you are in their party and you can’t do anything, then there should be a different party that will bring good people together,” Jega said.

Jega is currently a professor in the department of political science, Bayero University, Kano State.