[size=18pt]Jega queries Niger state Inec boss •For allegedly romancing with Gov Aliyu[/size]

Written by Dipo Laleye Minna Wednesday, 15 September 2010



Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attaihiru Jega, may have issued a verbal query to the Niger State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo, over an alleged romance with the Niger State government.

This was coming on the heels of a verbal war between the Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Baban-gida Aliyu and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), governorship candidate in the 2007 election, Mr David Umoru.

Professor Jega’s query according to a source close to the INEC office in Minna, arose from a recent visit of Dr Onucheyo to Governor Aliyu during which he allegedly solicited for the support of the administration.

The same issue was the cause of the verbal war between Mr David Umoru and Governor Aliyu at the stakeholders forum, organised to sensitise the people ahead of the voter registration and election proper.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that Professor Jega, who read about the interaction between the Niger State REC and the governor in the newspapers reportedly put a phone call through to Dr Onucheyo asking for the details of the discussion.

It will be recalled that Professor Jega had instructed all his officers not to ‘romance’ with state governors as one of the ways of achieving a free and fair election in 2011.

Nigerian Tribune was told by an official of the commission, who was at the REC office when the call came in, that Dr Onucheyo denied seeking for assistance from the state government.


http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/11081--jega-queries-niger-state-inec-boss-for-allegedly-romancing-with-gov-aliyu