Group Calls On Jega To Resign From His Position

A civil society group, Move on Nigeria, has called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, to resign over allegations that he is being partial and has an affiliation with a political party. 

INEC ChairmanProf. Attahiru Jega

The group also accused him of failing in the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Vanguard reports.
The national coordinator of the group, Clem Aguiyi, who was speaking with journalists at a press conference in Lagos, said that INEC should allow Nigerians to vote with their Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) if the PVCs are not available.

“The reason for the poll postponement as advised by the National Security Adviser at Chatham House, London, on the 15th of January, is that INEC’s attempt to disenfranchise 23 million Nigerians, something that has never happened before in the history of this country, is a security risk.


“The National Security Adviser was concerned that such an unprecedented disenfranchisement could lead to an avoidable civil strife which our armed forces would have to deal with at a time when the army should be focused on the current war against insurgents. The major issue is that INEC has failed Nigerians in the distribution of PVCs and seeks to blindfold millions of Nigerians whose right to vote he seeks to truncate,” Aguiyi said.

According to the group coordinator, the INEC chairman “is playing poker with the distribution of PVCs.”  Aguiyi claimed that Attahiru Jega decided to help the All Progressives Congress to rig the election. In his opinion, some parts of the country that would traditionally vote for Goodluck Jonathan were deprived of their cards, while the parts of the country that would traditionally support Buhari already have the cards.

“He should give people their PVCs and if that is not available, he should make provision for people to vote with their TVCs. In 2011, Jega conducted a free, fair and credible election with the TVCs. I don’t know why he chose to waste the country’s money on PVC’s which can lead to anarchy if not controlled.”

At the end of the statement, Aguiyi described Jega as an honourable man who should honourably resign if he is not ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

The PDP has recently changed its position regarding the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega. According to the party chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, the government has made a u-turn from its earlier stance and passed a vote of confidence in Jega.