Be ready to beat Jega’s records, Ogun JMPP candidate tells INEC chairman

Ismail Oyefeso, Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP)’s governorship candidate in Ogun, on Monday called on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to work harder towards beating his predecessor’s records.

Oyefeso gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

NAN reports that former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, conducted the 2015 Presidential Election that brought into power the then opposition party, the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyefeso said that the electoral umpire should be ready to insulate itself from political interference, as it prepares for this year’s polls.

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“INEC as a body should be independent of government at all times. Its loyalty should be to the Nigerians and not politicians serving in government.

“Prof. Mahmood has two choices of either sustaining or destroying the reputation which he worked hard to build all his life.

“His predecessor, Prof. Jega, left with a legacy. So, the outcome of the elections will deliver his scorecard.

“The whole world is always at a standstill when it comes to Nigeria’s elections,” he said.

Oyefeso said that the elections would be peaceful if all Nigerians collectively support the security agencies.

According to him, 2019 elections will come with its own challenges, but there are capable institutions of government that are working round the clock, to ensure a peaceful exercise.

“For the general elections to be conducted peacefully, it has to be the collective decision of Nigerians to support the security agencies with intelligence that will foil any violence that may want to happen.

“The youths must have an accord with the police and other security agencies, for us to experience a peaceful election,” he said.

The 34-year-old candidate from Odogbolu Local Government Area is the Executive Director, Nigeria Youth in Politics and Chief Executive Officer, Exposure Multimedia Consult.