The Independent National Electoral Commission has been told that the 2023 presidential election must hold.

 

A former chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega gave the warnng, saying nothing must be allowed to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections.

 

He lamented that some politicians are desperate and may attempt to use political thugs during the process, but such evil-minded persons must not be allowed to prevail.

 

Jega spoke over the weekend after the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) where it also presented its manifesto.

 

Speaking against the background of the recent burning of some INEC offices by hoodlums, Jega said it is part of the desperation of some politicians who may want to resort to violence.

 

According to him, the burning was “very unfortunate”, as it shows “the desperation of politicians to use criminal elements to disrupt the preparations for the elections.”

 

“This is something that all well-meaning Nigerians must oppose, must condemn. This is something that our security agencies must collaborate and work together, apprehend the culprits, and ensure that measures are put in place so that this does not happen again.

  

“The 2023 elections must hold, and they must hold in an atmosphere of peace without any apprehension by the voters so that we can have very good candidates elected,” Jega said.

 

Jega while commending the efforts of INEC so far as the nation counts down to the 2023 election said it must not allow the agenda of unscrupulous elements to prevail but must ensure the general election is free and fair.

 

“But you know that our politicians are very desperate, so they try to do everything to throw spanners in the works. So our hope is that the INEC leadership will remain focused and resolute to ensure that elections are conducted with integrity in 2023,” he submitted.

The nun known as Mary Margaret Kreuper, who is 80 years old, confessed to stealing the money within a period of 10 years (2008-2018) while she was still a principal at James Catholic School which is located in the LA suburb of Torrance.

She pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and wire fraud. She was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Otis D. Wright II to pay the sum of approximately $835,000 to the school.

“I have sinned, I’ve broken the law and I have no excuses,” Kreuper said via teleconference. “My actions were in violation of my vows, my commandments, the law, and, above all, the sacred trust that so many had placed in me. I was wrong and I’m profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering I’ve caused so many people.”

Reports revealed that the now-retired elementary school principal confessed that she embezzled the money through tuition fees and donations.

She said that she used the money to pay for her personal expenses which included large gambling expenses and credit card charges that she incurred at casinos.

The old nun served as a principal at the elementary school for 28 years, she was responsible for receiving school donations and fees. She was also in charge of controlling different school accounts which included an account that was meant to cover the living expenses of nuns employed by the school.

Her gambling habits made her go broke and she was tempted to start diverting school funds to aid her chronic gambling habit. She visited casinos regularly and incurred many heavy credit card charges which she used the school’s funds to pay for her personal charges.