A news report making the rounds online claims former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, a professor, commented during a paper presentation that the 2023 elections were compromised.
The former INEC helmsman, who presented a paper titled Electoral Reform and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: Review of 2022 Electoral Act (areas for further legislative actions) at a two-day retreat organized by the Senate in Ikot Ipene, Akwa Ibom State, was quoted to have said: “We have seen, in 2023 elections, the damaging effect of how people in the corridors of power get their client/partisan nominees appointed, without being thoroughly screened, and then they are influenced to compromise the integrity of elections”.
Claim: Professor Jega assailed the conduct of the 2023 polls by describing them as compromised.
Verification
To verify the claim, CDD War Room requested a copy of the presentation made by the former INEC helmsman. The PowerPoint presentation titled; Electoral Reform and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: Review of 2022 Electoral Act (Areas for Further Legislative Action) contains 28 slides.
We reviewed the PowerPoint slides and found nowhere in which the university don made the comment as published in the online news platforms. We also contacted Princess Hamman-Obels, Senior Research Assistant (SRA) to Professor Jega, who refuted the claim that her principal described the 2023 elections as compromised during his presentation.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
CDD War Room later received a short press statement signed by Hamman-Obels, which read thus: “The attention of Professor Attahiru Jega, has been drawn to a misleading report published in a number of online newspapers quoting him to have commented that the 2023 elections were compromised.
The report making the rounds is incorrect and not an accurate reflection of the presenter’s position. Professor Jega categorically denies making this particular comment about the 2023 polls. As would be seen in his presentation he made at the Senate Retreat held in Ikot Ipene, Akwa Ibom State, nowhere did he make such a statement that the 2023 elections were compromised. Professor Jega hopes this rebuttal will correct the incorrect and inaccurate reporting currently making the rounds.”
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