How politicians corrupt electoral process, by Jega

The Nation

24 Feb 2011

How politicians corrupt electoral process, by Jega

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Attahiru Jega has accused government officials of using ill-acquired resources to bribe officials of the Commission and security operatives to rig elections for them.

He identified abuse of political power and its use for corrupt self enrichment as a major cause of electoral problems in the country. 　

Jega spoke in Abuja yesterday while delivering a lecture at the Chief of Army Staff First quarter Conference. His paper was entitled: "Inter Agency Cooperation for a Credible Election: the Complementary Roles of INEC and Security Agencies."

Jega said the winner takes all syndrome which gives control of political power and economic resources to the winners contributes to the crisis over elections.　 　

He said: "the zero-sum nature of political power increases electoral stakes tremendously. To win an election is to control power and to lose is to be condemned to four years of harassment by those in power, exclusion from economic opportunities and consignment to the doldrums of political irrelevance.