‘Nigerian politicians behave like militants,’ Ex-INEC boss says

Jega also condemned the country’s politicians for treating politics like a do-or-die affair.

He made the comments on Saturday, October 8, during the 50th birthday celebration of All Progressives Congress (APC) Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire.

“INEC, as an election management body, faced perhaps its greatest challenge containing the predisposition and reckless mindset of Nigerian politicians. I quite often say that Nigeria has a special breed of politicians – ‘militicians’,” Jega said according to Punch.

“They generally tend to believe that political power, through election, has to be captured and this has to be done by hook or by crook; by any means necessary. For many, winning an election is literally a do-or-die affair. That is why the Nigerian political arena increasingly resembles a bloody battlefield with maiming, killing, burning, assassinations and unimaginable destruction of lives and property.

“Navigating the minefield of do-or-die politicians as an impartial electoral umpire requires nerves of steel and requisite thick skin as well as appropriate containment.

“As long as politicians continue to have unwholesome mindset, efforts at electoral reforms and deepening democracy would remain constrained and susceptible to reversal. This is, therefore, a key area of priority focus as we contemplate sustainable credible elections in Nigeria,” he added.

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Jega has been praised globally for his handling of the 2015 general election which was won by President Muhammadu Buhari.