The lingering controversies surrounding
plot to remove the chairman of the
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega may
have finally be put to rest as the
presidency has reportedly gotten a
replacement for the embattled INEC
chairman.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega
A reliable source within the presidency
who did not want to be named on
Tuesday disclosed to YNaija that the
presidency is planning on removing the
INEC chairman this week.
READ ALSO: Bishop Calls For Jega’s Sack
The information is coming despite
assurances from President Goodluck
Jonathan during February 11 presidential
media chat that he had no intention of
removing Jega from office.
The source further revealed that after a
long search, the INEC National
Commissioner, Amina Bala Zakari, has
finally been chosen to replace Prof. Jega.
It was gathered that President Jonathan
will force Jega to commence his terminal
leave in order to give way for a
replacement.
Meanwhile, Prof. Jega is scheduled to
meet with Resident Electoral
Commissioners on Wednesday, and it is
during that meeting that the removal plot
will be hatched.
“During Wednesday’s meeting, the RECs
will pass a no confidence vote on the
Chairman, and the FG will then step in and
declare that his position is untenable
since his own people don’t have
confidence in him. Once Prof. Jega is
removed, Mr. President will nominate a
new chairman who will declare that INEC
is not ready to use PVCs. And once PVCs
are removed, it will become easier to carry
out major rigging,” the source said.
READ ALSO: REVEALED: Why Jonathan, PDP
Are Angry With Jega
However, another source also revealed
that the Presidency was expecting a
storm that would accompany Jega’s
removal.
“They believe that the APC, the press, the
US and EU will make noise, but then
everybody will calm down after some
time. Many RECs are in the PDP’s pocket,
but Professor Jega has refused even to
pick up the phone calls of those
representing the president. That’s why
the decision has been reached to push
him out of the way,” the source said.
Recall that speculation on plot to oust
Prof. Jega from office have been
gathering momentum since the general
elections were postponed in February.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan in an
interview with Aljazeera, reassured
Nigerians and the international
community that he has no plan to sack
Professor Jega, ahead of Nigeria’s general
elections slated for March 28 and April 11.
But, the plot to remove the INEC chairman
have generated a lot of criticism and
reactions from political parties, concerned
Nigerians and groups.
The All Progressives Congress had earlier
alleged that the Federal Government,
through the office of the Head of Civil
Service of the Federation, is plotting to
send Mr. Jega on terminal leave before the
elections .
However, following reports last week, it
was gathered that the federal
government have shortlisted four possible
candidates to replace the INEC chairman.