Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has asserted that in the 2023 elections, unscrupulous politicians with a fervent desire to secure victory at any cost infiltrated the electoral body’s election result portal, IReV. Jega noted that these politicians, driven by recklessness and desperation, undermined INEC’s efforts to conduct a fair election. Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources Programme, Jega highlighted the challenges faced by INEC, attributing many of them to the self-serving mindset of politicians who sought victory through any means necessary.
Despite INEC’s continuous efforts to enhance transparency and integrity in the election result process through technological advancements, Jega, drawing on his experience from 2011 to 2015, expressed suspicion that the interference by reckless politicians persisted into the 2023 elections. He emphasized that politicians often tried to outsmart INEC by staying one step ahead of technological innovations introduced by the electoral body.
Jega pointed out a potential flaw in the IReV system, despite the confidence expressed by the current INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu. He speculated that the system might have been compromised by politicians who managed to infiltrate and disrupt it. Jega, while acknowledging the role of reckless politicians, urged for a thorough investigation into the matter. He also called on INEC to provide a detailed account to the Nigerian public regarding the incident involving the IReV portal.