If President Goodluck Jonathan names Akunyili as Chairman of INEC as reported below, then he'll leave himself open to obvious criticisms if he runs for the presidency in 2011.  For some reason, I don't believe Daily Trust's "impeccable" sources.

Information and Communications Minister Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili’s name will shortly be forwarded by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Senate for confirmation as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Daily Trust learnt from impeccable sources in Abuja yesterday.
The INEC chairman’s position became vacant two weeks ago, when Professor Maurice Iwu was ordered by the Presidency to proceed on terminal leave preparatory to the expiration of his 5-year tenure next month.

Sources told Daily Trust that President Jonathan worked on a long list of names from all over the country, and was under much pressure from the international community and from local civil society groups to appoint a very credible person as INEC chairman in order to lay the grounds for fulfilling his promise to ensure free and fair elections in the country next year.

However, Daily Trust learnt, a powerful delegation from the South Eastern states met with the president last week and complained that the East has lost and is still losing some key positions in the Federal Government in recent years. They particularly referred to the post of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN], and said when Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s tenure was not renewed, the late President Umaru Yar’adua replaced him with a Northerner. They said the same thing must not happen again with the INEC chairmanship.

Read the rest of the story here ===>  http://www.news.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19126:akunyili-to-be-named-inec-chairman&catid=46:lead-stories&Itemid=140

God forbid!!

^^^^^^^^

Sharrap!

not feasible!

EzeUche:

^^^^^^^^

Sharrap!

Kobojunkie is right. Akunyili would be a terrible choice. We all saw her enjoying herself immensely while she helped the PDP to rig in their man as Ekiti Governor in full view of the World. Please let us not taint rational thinking with ethnic sentiments. If Jonathan has chosen Akunyili it can only mean that he plans to rig the 2011 election. That would not surprise those of us who insist that , as an election rigger , Jonathan will probably not conduct credible elections.

If Jonathan is serious he must look at individuals like Agbakoba, Soyinka, Umar, Falana et al.

Dora? I like her but I have my reservations.

It would be the biggest mistake to our fight for electoral reform if we name this woman is chairman of INEC. I have always asserted that i prefer a dishonest man to a hypocrite! Dora being the latter, she is more a crooked politician than any of thieving maniacs in the Senate! Her slippery approach and unsteadfast posits during the thick of the late President's regime was a clear indictment on her part! She would NOT be able to stand the heat that would emanate from that position and would make Iwu appear a saintly personage!

I dont think this can happen since she is a bonafide member of PDP and such positions should be occupied by a non-partisan person.

However, I doubt the integrity of Daily Trust, the Newspaper that reported this story. I recall their role during the period Yar Adua was incapacitated. In fact, I wont be surprised if the same Newspaper reports today that Yar Adua was seen in White House trying to lobby Obama to help get his position back from Jonathan.

There is something to be said for a nation who deliberately ignores potentials and keeps recycling used and worn out people!

desgiezd:

I dont think this can happen since she is a bonafide member of PDP and such positions should be occupied by a non-partisan person.

However, I doubt the integrity of Daily Trust, the Newspaper that reported this story. I recall their role during the period Yar Adua was incapacitated. In fact, I wont be surprised if the same Newspaper reports today that Yar Adua was seen in White House trying to lobby Obama to help get his position back from Jonathan.

You are right.

Junk news. Even Dora herself will not accept a position that will potentially ruin what is left of her image. Nigeria's electoral failures is actually not about INEC alone. It is more about the politicians who do any and everything to win.

I don't trust that newspaper,why is it the only one reporting the news and even though I don't know the owners of that paper I believe its pursuing a northern agenda possibly to whip up sentiments against Goodluck.

Who is the best in Nigeria, even the trusted can dissappoint as far as Nigeria's politics is concern. So is only God that can see us through.

I thought Olisa Agbakoba had been appointed to this position. I remember seeing it on BEN TV, maybe I was wrong

bibiking1:

It would be the biggest mistake to our fight for electoral reform if we name this woman is chairman of INEC. I have always asserted that i prefer a dishonest man to a hypocrite! Dora being the latter, she is more a crooked politician than any of thieving maniacs in the Senate! Her slippery approach and unsteadfast posits during the thick of the late President's regime was a clear indictment on her part! She would NOT be able to stand the heat that would emanate from that position and would make Iwu appear a saintly personage!

Metchie önúgi my friend. Is it the same Dora we all know to be a dogged amazon that you're writing all this falsehood against? You Nigerians amaze me! She will make a great choice as INEC chairman; her integrity and positive passion are not not in doubt.

Dora is a hypocrite and a noise maker.
This position is not for show off.It is a job that requires a lot of organisational and administrative skills.
She will be overwhelmed by the role.
A man like Olisa Agbakoba would be a better choice.

Yes Olisa Agbakogba is the best man for the job

Anyone who thinks that GoodLuck will contest in 2011 is an alien to Nigerian politics.Appointing Dora or Agbakoba is a ploy for future credibility say 2015.

Ribadu is coming back to take the job! just hold on, insider info

ladi02:

Ribadu is coming back to take the job! just hold on, insider info

Ribadu president? Dream on!

Akunyili is well known for her ability to seperate her personal interests from national assignments has she has shown in NAFDAC and as Minister of Information.

Giving her the job is not entirely a bad idea, even though there are other people who can also do the job, the issue would be that she would have to quit the PDP and after that she can handle her job properly.

Gbawe:

Kobojunkie is right. Akunyili would be a terrible choice. We all saw her enjoying herself immensely while she helped the PDP to rig in their man as Ekiti Governor in full view of the World. Please let us not taint rational thinking with ethnic sentiments. If Jonathan has chosen Akunyili it can only mean that he plans to rig the 2011 election. That would not surprise those of us who insist that , as an election rigger , Jonathan will probably not conduct credible elections.

If Jonathan is serious he must look at individuals like Agbakoba, Soyinka, Umar, Falana et al.  



Pls can u expantiate on Akunyilis role in the Ekiti election and compare with her role in Anambra elections, and what exactly do u want, for Jonathan to set up an INEC that will ensure he loses the 2011 elections?