Obasanjo Leads Search For Iwu’s Successor - Politics - Nairaland
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| Obasanjo Leads Search For Iwu’s Successor by lordbayor(m): 11:34pm On Mar 21, 2010 |
I laugh in Ijebu ode  Ahead of the expected exit of the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu, in May this year, the Federal Government may have picked former President Olusegun Obsanjo to lead the search for a successor. The Nation learnt yesterday that Obasanjo, who remains influential in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been mandated by a powerful caucus in the PDP, to look for a candidate that would succeed Iwu, whose controversial tenure recorded a string of electoral irregularities. The source hinted that the federal authorities, this time, favour an INEC Chairman from the South-West geo-political zone. "Obasanjo is leading the search for Iwu’s successor. The thinking is that this time, a Yoruba man should be the next INEC Chairman," a source at the Presidency told The Nation. However, many observers think the involvement of Obasanjo in the search for Iwu’s successor casts a big cloud on the prospects for a free and fair election in 2011. The former President is notorious for his lack of commitment to a credible poll as demonstrated in his infamous ‘do-or-die’ slogan. The 2007 elections conducted by Iwu drew global outrage. Iwu’s is required by law to leave in May. He would be leaving behind an INEC marred by corruption, several unresolved legal battles related to the 2007 General Elections which he supervised and a lingering debate on electoral reforms as contained in the Justice Mohammed Uwais Panel’s recommendations which the National Assembly is yet to adopt. Sources told our correspondent that the preference for a Yoruba candidate was informed by the development that has taken place in the Presidency since President Yar A’dua took ill, leading to the emergence of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. With a South- South leader in the saddle instead of the Northern head, this has upset the political balancing in the Presidency. In the recent past, the bosses of the electoral body have come mainly from the South East or the South South. The list of chairmen of the organization since 1979 includes Justice Ovie Whiskey from the then Bendel State, Professor Eme Awa and Professor Humphrey Nwosu from the South East, Dr Abel Goubadia from Edo State and Professor Iwu also from the South East. Ahead of the 2011 General Elections, Iwu recently released a tentative timetable, which has drawn criticism from various quarters. It is not clear what his motive could be, considering that he should be on his way out. It is an unlikely scenario that Iwu would keep his job, as this would certainly heat up the polity. There have been intense calls for his resignation or removal, especially from the opposition, since Election 2007 which was widely condemned as fraudulent. It is not clear how far-reaching the anticipated electoral reforms would be, but it is hoped that they would lead to the emergence of a more credible electoral body. The opposition insists that INEC in its current shape cannot organize free and fair elections, and one of its key demands is that the appointment of the head of the electoral body is too important to be left in the hands of the government of the day. |
| Re: Obasanjo Leads Search For Iwu’s Successor by asha80(m): 11:38pm On Mar 21, 2010 |
So inec chairman is now subject to zoning? Well if thisn story is true expect more 'do or die' mentallity on the part of inec. |
| Re: Obasanjo Leads Search For Iwu’s Successor by lordbayor(m): 11:45pm On Mar 21, 2010 |
The thing there is that OBJ himself is father or rigging and him been in lead to get new INEC chairman it siply shows that we should except someone who can do much worst that IWU But come to think of this OBJ can also act the other way around just as he did with EFCC, this BABA too much |
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