Politicians behind election malpractices - Yar’Adua

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 17.01.2008

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua on Wednesday blamed politicians for election malpractices in the country and called for a change of heart.

The President, who stated this at a meeting he held with stakeholders on election, also blamed election malpractices for the outbreak of the civil war.

“No matter the legislation, no matter the efforts we put in electoral reform, no matter the credibility of the electoral umpire, unless our political leaders change their attitude towards election, we will continue to have problems,” Yar’Adua said.

He said it was mismanagement of the electoral process during the First Republic that started a chain of events which led to the civil war.

The President told those at the meeting that collectively, they now had the responsibility of laying the foundation for solid democratic growth in the country.