Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has reaffirmed his stance on the deployment of university professors as returning officers during elections, emphasizing their integrity and resistance to political bribery.
Speaking at the June 12 Democracy Day edition of The Platform, a socio-political event hosted by Covenant Nation, Jega defended the inclusion of academics in Nigeria’s electoral process. He noted that while politicians frequently attempt to influence election outcomes through bribery, professors have overwhelmingly rejected such inducements, ensuring credibility in the system.
Jega, who pioneered the use of university professors and vice-chancellors as returning officers during his tenure at INEC from 2010 to 2015, stated that the integrity of academics has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s electoral process. He acknowledged that while a few cases of electoral misconduct involving professors have been prosecuted, these instances remain statistically insignificant compared to the broader contributions of academics. was terrible by the time we came to INEC,” Jega remarked. “We relied on vice-chancellors to help us select academic staff with transparent criteria, ensuring integrity in the process. The overwhelming majority of professors would not compromise their reputation for election malpractice.”
Despite calls from various professional bodies to diversify the pool of election officials, Jega maintained that the use of professors has proven effective and should not be abandoned. He urged continued reliance on academics to safeguard electoral integrity while advocating for broader reforms to enhance transparency in Nigeria’s democratic process.