Leader of the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, on Wednesday called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, for alleged bias.
Uwazurike, who addressed a press conference in Owerri, said Jega cannot conduct pre-determined elections in the southern part of the country. He said aside from the ‘obvious display of bias’, the INEC chairman ought to proceed on three months pre-retirement leave as was done by his predecessors, Dr Abel Guobadia and Prof. Maurice Iwu during their times.He said the three geo-political zones of South-east, south-south and south-west would not participate in any election conducted by Professor Jega, as the people of the area have already lost confidence in the ability of the INEC chairman to conduct credible elections.
“It is amazing that one of the political parties is strongly opposed to the removal of Jega. It is also amazing that Jega refused to step aside even when there are evidences pointing to his bias. What is disturbing is indeed the catastrophe his agenda may provoke. This catastrophe could be avoided.
“Inasmuch as many believe that Jega has compromised, the only option left for him is to quit. He is not the only person that can conduct elections in Nigeria. Any national commissioner of the INEC could do so.”
“My worry is that the said election, if conducted by Jega, will lack credibility and will unavoidably engulf the nation in serious crisis. In such crisis, as usual, the safety of lives and property of Ndigbo in the North and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction,” he argued.
“From onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He compromised that by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than 2/3 of the polling units to the North. Despite public outcry, the senate also passed a resolution stating that the polling units should not be used. Still Jega went ahead and converted the polling units to voting centres in the North”, he alleged.
He also alleged that the preparations for the conduct of the elections by Jega had been characterized by falsehood, recalling that a week before the postponement of the elections, he claimed he was ready conduct the elections.
Source: Thisday
Uwazurike, who addressed a press conference in Owerri, said Jega cannot conduct pre-determined elections in the southern part of the country. He said aside from the ‘obvious display of bias’, the INEC chairman ought to proceed on three months pre-retirement leave as was done by his predecessors, Dr Abel Guobadia and Prof. Maurice Iwu during their times.He said the three geo-political zones of South-east, south-south and south-west would not participate in any election conducted by Professor Jega, as the people of the area have already lost confidence in the ability of the INEC chairman to conduct credible elections.
“It is amazing that one of the political parties is strongly opposed to the removal of Jega. It is also amazing that Jega refused to step aside even when there are evidences pointing to his bias. What is disturbing is indeed the catastrophe his agenda may provoke. This catastrophe could be avoided.
“Inasmuch as many believe that Jega has compromised, the only option left for him is to quit. He is not the only person that can conduct elections in Nigeria. Any national commissioner of the INEC could do so.”
“My worry is that the said election, if conducted by Jega, will lack credibility and will unavoidably engulf the nation in serious crisis. In such crisis, as usual, the safety of lives and property of Ndigbo in the North and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction,” he argued.
“From onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He compromised that by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than 2/3 of the polling units to the North. Despite public outcry, the senate also passed a resolution stating that the polling units should not be used. Still Jega went ahead and converted the polling units to voting centres in the North”, he alleged.
He also alleged that the preparations for the conduct of the elections by Jega had been characterized by falsehood, recalling that a week before the postponement of the elections, he claimed he was ready conduct the elections.
Source: Thisday
