Politicians on Monday said that for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct successful general elections in 2015, it should disengage some of its officials found to be corrupt.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The politicians alleged that rigging during elections were aided by some officials of the commission.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, last week in Paris promised staff members of the Nigerian Embassy in Paris, France, that the 2015 general elections would be the “best ever conducted” by the commission.
He said that the Commission would spare no effort to make the general elections the most acceptable by Nigerians.
Mr Damian Ogbonna, National Chairman, Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), advised Jega to remove identified corrupt staff members of the commission.
“The most important thing in terms of conducting the most credible election is fundamentally for INEC to find a way to remove officers that were found to be involved in corrupt practices,’’ Ogbonna said.
He alleged that it was sharp practices among the commission staff that had continued to create and aid riggings in elections.
He also suggested that the commission should use electronic voting in conducting the 2015 elections.
“I know a lot of money was budgeted for electronic voting under former INEC boss, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and till now, the system has not been used.
“Now, Jega has almost three years to get those things done,” Ogbonna noted.
Also speaking, Mr Sam Onimisi, National Publicity Secretary, Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA), advised the commission to ensure that necessary structures are on ground before 2015.
Onimisi explained that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral commission.
“In all honesty, Nigerians believe that INEC should be reformed. The commission is abhorred of new or creative ideas.
“So, between now and 2015, INEC should ensure that those structures are in place and not only read on papers,’’ he said. (NAN)