By John Ikani
Former Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has urged Nigerians not to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) henceforth.
Jega, INEC’s chairman between 2010 and 2015, gave the warning in an interview with BBC Hausa.
He alleged that the two major political parties were like Siamese twin and it was high time Nigerians looked for a credible alternative.
The former INEC boss who faulted the anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, 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,” he said.
Jega also alleged that it was lack of good leadership in Nigeria that threw the nation into its current problems, which have led to the series of agitations for the country to be balkanized.
“Since 1979 I’ve been teaching in the university, for 40 years now. So, from what I read and observed, when I was Chairman of INEC, honestly the way I see our politicians conducting elections and from the manner they represent their people when elected, honestly it is something to be afraid of,” he added.