‘Corrupt People Sneaked Into APC’ — Jega

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said he joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), because the two major parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians.

Jega, who reiterated his membership of PRP in a recent interview with BBC Hausa said, 'Nigerians should dump the two parties, because of their bad antecedents over the last 20 years'. He criticised the APC 'for being a dump for corrupt politicians'.

“Looking at their inability to change the economic fortunes of Nigeria for 20 years now, it is now apparently clear that they would not do anything even if Nigerians vote for any of the two parties again.

“We are hearing nothing. That is why I’ve since registered with the Peoples Redemption Party( PRP). I am now a PRP member looking for ways to help Nigeria.

“The APC and PDP have formed governments, we were all witnesses. They did not come with a good intention to make amends. If you look at the fight against corruption, all these corrupt people that were supposed to be prosecuted, sneaked into the APC.

“That is why we believe now is the time to establish a platform where every good Nigerian should join and contribute towards building the nation on the right path,” he said.

Jega, 64, is a Nigerian academic and former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano.

On 8 June 2010, he was nominated by then President Goodluck Jonathan as the new Chairman of INEC, subject to Senate confirmation, as a replacement for Professor Maurice Iwu, who vacated the post on 28 April 2010.

Jega is the only INEC chairman to oversee two Nigerian General Elections (2011 and 2015). He retired on 30 June 2015, handing over his position to Amina Zakari according to a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.