Faction Of National Assembly Moves To Remove Jega

According to the Nation, a faction of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members in the National Assembly were attempting to stir trouble, turn top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the commission’s chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

It is the latest of alleged moves by the party to destabilize INEC as the nation prepares for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

Several officials, including commissioners, confronted with Jega on official matters with a view to creating a crisis of confidence in the agency, and distracting its attention ahead of the polls. 

A meeting to perfect the plan took place recently at a posh hotel in the Asokoro District of Abuja. Present at the dead of the night meeting discussion were several influential members of the National Assembly and some INEC officials.

They were said to have reviewed mainly Jega’s ‘uncompromising attitude’ on the use of card readers and the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). 

The PDP does not want both to be used during the elections.

It was gathered that some forces in the party got the National Assembly members to meet the INEC officials on how to frustrate Jega.

Some INEC commissioners were card-carrying members of the PDP before their appointment, according to sources.

A source familiar with the development said: “Some forces are working desperately to break the rank of the commission before the general election. I think some past officials of INEC are part of the plot. What they are planning now is to cause disaffection between Jega and his team in order to show that INEC is not ready for the general election.

“If they force Jega out before the poll, the nation will lose because the credibility of the general election would have been lost.”

An INEC director said the meeting was an open secret but says Jega remains unmoved and is focused on conducting free and fair elections.

“We got a phone alert about the said meeting but since Jega has nothing to hide, we did not respond to the move,” the INEC director said. 

“What is important is that we are focused on how to conduct free and fair polls.”

It will be recalled that, another Daily revealed that the federal government has come up with a list of INEC commissioners who are being tipped to replace the INEC chairman.