INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has amidst rumours of his possible removal and calls for his sack by certain groups, reassured Nigerians of his commitment towards delivering the best elections in the history of Nigeria so far.

He gave the reassurance yesterday during a Town Hall meeting organised by Reinvent Media, The Kukah Centre, Ford Foundation and Channels TV at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja.

Professor Jega dismissed the possibility of his proceeding on terminal leave before the conduct of the 2015 general elections, saying, “I have a job to do until April 11, and no sensible person in my view that is holding this job like the one am holding will contemplate dropping everything and going on leave before it is concluded.”

The INEC chairman explained that he only reads about his possible sack or proceeding to terminal leave on the pages of newspapers, and called for focus on delivering the best elections for Nigeria.

“As far as I am concerned, I have a job to do and I remain focused to do it. Nobody has told me I am being removed and I am not under any pressure. I believe it will be a disservice to this country at this point in time to say I am resigning. I have absolutely no reason why I should resign, so everybody in INEC is focused on delivering the best elections that we can for this country”, he said.

When asked on whether INEC believes there is sufficient security to conduct the March 28th and April 11th elections, Professor Jega said: “from all information available to me as I speak with you, there is evidence indicating that we are much better off security-wise than we were before the postponement of the elections.”

Professor Jega, however, debunked claims that elections are being militarized, explaining that the role of the military in elections since 2011 has been “as defined in the constitution which is to provide support to civil authorities if there is breakdown of the law and order. We had always had three unarmed police men at the polling unit, and then three hundred metres away from the polling unit as the Electoral Act provides, we have never had military at the polling unit.”

Source: INEC Bulletin