INEC : Jonathan makes U-turn
From MODESTUS CHUKWULAKA, Abuja
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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President Goodluck Jonathan has stepped into the stalemate at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as he reversed his earlier order, directing that the most senior national commissioner take over from retiring Prof. Maurice Iwu in acting capacity.
Jonathan, on Monday night wrote a letter to Prince Adedeji Soyebi, appointing him Acting Chairman of the commission instead of Mr. Philip Umeadi (Jr) who was the superior of the two surviving national commissioners.

Jonathan also reversed the earler presidential order which hitherto sent Mr. Victor Chukwuani, another National Commissioner on compulsory pre-retirement leave. Chukwuani had been asked to return to INEC “to complete his tenure which has not expired.”
Daily Sun learnt that the letters approving Soyebi and reinstating Chukwuani were signed by Yayale Ahmed, Secretary to the Federal Government and copied to INEC Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama.

Besides the intrigues and the politicking that have trailed the leadership of the electoral body since Iwu was forced into pre-disengagement leave, a forthnight ago, the presidency was said to have considered the respective ages of Soyebi and Umeadi while settling for an acting INEC chief.

Born in October 21, 1963, Umeadi is 46 years now. The minimum age requirement for INEC Chairman is 50. He obtained his LLB in 1990 after spending six years, for a five-year course, an extra one year at the University of Benin Law Faculty.


Hmmm, didn't know age requirement is a pre-requisite for becoming INEC chairman.