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The Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, on Saturday said government at all levels have abandoned governance.

He made the comment at the National Convention of the People Redemption Party (PRP) which was held in Abuja.

“Our government at the at the state, local and federal level have long abandoned governance,” he said. “And no country can develop without good governance, without good people driving good governance.

“So I urge us to go back and realise that the work of ahead of us is a lot; it may even seem difficult, but it is not impossible to do it.”

Professor Jega is a member of the PRP.

The party is hoping to increase its membership base to 30,000 in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

At Saturday’s Convention, the party swore in new national executives.

The PRP prides itself as the oldest political party in Nigeria, having being initially registered in 1978.

According to the party’s National Chairman, Falalu Bello, the PRP is in merger talks with other political groups, however it does not plan to change its name or logo.

Days after the gory terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound train on Monday night, the Peoples Democratic Party, Thursday in Abuja, said that a “public confession” by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, authenticated its position that the All Progressives Congress-led government knows the whereabouts and plans of the terrorists but failed to act.

The main opposition also alleged that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said his request to install security surveillance equipment to avert terrorist attacks on the Kaduna-Abuja rail was not honoured by the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the main opposition quoted the Kaduna State Governor as saying “we know where their camps are, we know where they are, the SSS has their phone numbers, they listen to them and they give me report…”

However, in an earlier report, The PUNCH highlighted that the governor, referring to the terrorists said, “We know what they are planning. We shouldn’t be waiting for them to attack; why can’t we go after them? We are in a state of war; this place should be declared a warzone. The Army, Air Force, and the police should go in there and kill them.”

In the statement titled, ‘Terrorism: El-Rufai, Amaechi’s confessions confirm complicity by APC govt,’ the PDP quoted the transport minister as saying “We knew what the problem would be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. We applied for it. Because if we had those equipment, you would see nobody on that track. And I warned that lives will be lost. Now, lives are lost. Eight persons dead, 25 persons in the hospital.”

It also accused the Buhari-led government of “refusing to act despite having full intelligence on the whereabouts, as well as the plans of the terrorists, confirms grave complicity and conspiracy.”

“It is clear that the APC is complicit in the many acts of terrorism in our country. Nigerians should therefore be united in ensuring that the APC is voted out of power in 2023 so that our nation can breathe a new lease of life,” it added.

Efforts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, proved abortive as calls made to his mobile number were not answered.