The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulahi Umar Ganduje has said that poor Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) combine to contribute to Nigeria’s weak electoral system and electoral corruption.
The APC chairman who was speaking at high-level meeting of leaders of political parties and stakeholders organised by the Kukah Centre (TKC) with the support of European Union (EU) at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja stated that poor Nigerians demand for money before casting their votes while officials of INEC also easily get compromised during elections.
According to Ganduje, “The major problem we have in Nigeria is that of weak institutions because we are just going on an atrocious circle. Unless we break that circle and make our institutions strong, we are just blaming the politicians. Political parties are also weak and because of that weakness, corruption thrives.”
“Let us not be blaming the politicians, officeholders, those who win elections. Yes, we blame them but let us look at the security system, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that oversees the election.
“These institutions man the polling booths. So, tell me, can you win an election free? Even the poor man is not honest. If we are to go into details of what happens practically, you will see voters saying they cannot vote until they are paid.’’
While speaking, Fr Matthew Kukah who moderated the interactive session while admitting that the problem of corruption in Nigeria was not solely the handiwork of politicians, however, called for a collective action from all Nigerians to rescue the country.
He said, “Whether it is the judiciary or bureaucracy, all is a work in progress, and the most important thing is for us to learn the mistakes of the past and then develop the mechanism for ensuring that things don’t continue to repeat themselves.
“So, if you ask who built institutions? Institutions are supposed to be a mirror reflecting the aspirations, the fears, the hopes and the anxieties of an entire people. That means that for the police to become an institution and for the bureaucracy to become an institution, Nigerians must collectively and individually learn to say no to things going contrary to the principles of that institution.
“So, I think it is everybody’s business really for Nigeria to have stronger institutions.’’