I never described 2023 elections as compromised, Jega says

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has categorically said that he never described the 2023 elections as compromised.
Prof Jega, who was quoted by some media reports as saying that the 2023 elections were compromised at a two-day retreat organized by the Senate in Ikot Ipene, Akwa Ibom State, pointedly declared that never made such statement.
The erstwhile INEC Chairman and
Professor of Political Science at Bayero University, Kano, 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 reported 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”
However, a terse press statement signed by Jega’s Senior Research Assistant (SRA), Princess Hamman-Obels, on Monday, described the report making the rounds as incorrect and not an accurate reflection of his ( Jega’s) position.
Hamman-Obels, who also doubles as the Director of The Electoral Hub, an Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD), said: “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”, the statement said.