The Senate, penultimate Thursday, after two days of water-tight screening ratified the nomination of chairman-designate, Professor Attahiru Jega as the new helsman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Similarly, the upper chamber also confirmed the appointment of six national commissioners of the commission.

The six commissioners okayed by the Senate along with Prof Jega include: Nunu Yakubu, Col M. K. Hammanga (rtd), Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Dr Ismail Igbani (re-appointed), Mrs Telma Iremiren and Prof. Olayinola Olurode.

President Jonathan who had earlier dropped Gen. Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman and Amb. Mohammed Anka from the nominees list for the fact that they were found to be partisan promised to replace them in due course.

Reports indicate that Prof. Jega and his commissioners are already warming up to resume duties at INEC headquarters in Abuja, a development which shows their readiness to answer the national call and face the assignment with seriousness and commitment.

Senate President, David Mark shortly after the screening exercise told the INEC boss and the commissioners that Nigerians, and indeed, the world expect so much from them, especially at this critical moment of our political history.

Jega, in his response, however pledged to conduct the most credible, free, fair and widely acceptable elections in post-independent Nigeria at the end of his stewardship. He affirmed that he will never compromise his integrity which he worked hard to build over a long period.

For many Nigerians, Jega’s promise is like any other from public officeholders in our clime. His predecessors made similar promises but all ended u p compromising themselves.

Jega, while serving as the national president of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) maintained good track record and antecedent which made most Nigerians to easily accept his nomination for the INEC job.

The task before Jega is obviously enormous but definitely not insurmountable if the federal government and other stakeholders give him the necessary support and enabling environment.

Jega’s INEC must therefore endeavour to address fundamental problems plaguing our polity, some of which include credible voters register, voting pattern, sanitizing the INEC (from local to federal levels) re-orientation for all electoral officers, among others, which in the long run will lead to a successful 2011 polls, a major task of the Jega’s dispensation.

It is believed that the sacking of Iwu is just part of federal government’s desire to ensure that next year’s general elections will witness a radical departure from our ugly past.

Already, pressures are mounting on the presidency to take a step further by retiring all serving electoral commissioners, especially those involved in the electoral bazaar in 1999, 2003 and 2007 general elections.

As much as one will not want to doubt the president’s determination to, for once, prove our critics wrong that Nigeria can hold elections that would be acclaimed worldwide as “fair and credible”, we expect that Jonathan,s choice of Jega is right and just.

Besides, the political will on the part of the presidency, and the National Assembly must as a matter of necessity facilitate the process of reforming our electoral system and law in tandem with realities on ground.

The voters register must be reviewed as the existing one no longer conforms with current realities. Rules, regulations and guidelines on elections must be rigidly adhered to and not bent to suit sectional or partisan interests.

Besides, electoral officers should be given a re-orientation. Electoral offices need a complete departure from the impression which makes most of them erroneously believe that power of incumbency and the ruling party interest must be protected always.

We must realize at all times that Nigeria is far greater than those temporarily in power and therefore must exhibit neutrality and fairness to all during and after elections.

Similarly, voters have a major role to play in our crave to achieve credible polls. They need not mortgage their conscience but insist on credible candidates with good antecedents.

As the 2011 general elections draw closer, the presidency and other stakeholders must ensure that this time around, Nigeria gets it right. One way we can achieve this is to ensure that Jega and his team discharge their duties with utmost sense of responsibility, commitment and diligence.