Northern Elders Forum Warn Against Jega’s Removal

THE Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has warned the presidency to resist any attempt to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, ahead of the general election next month.

  The warning was given by Professor Ango Abdullahi, spokesman of the forum while addressing journalists in Bauchi yesterday, stressing that sacking Jega at this time will be a recipe for disaster.

  Ango, who was in accompanied by Alhaji Mohammed Bello Kirfi (Wazirin Bauchi) said: “With regards to Jega’s tenure, any attempt at this last minute by this government or its agency to remove Jega is a clear message that this government is determined to rig an election in which they see Jega as an impediment simply because he thinks that the commission must follow the rules for a free, fair and credible election. 

  Speaking on the postponement of the general election, he added that for several months now INEC has been consistent and emphatic on its readiness to organise and conduct the 2015 elections in February, saying the reasons given were “flimsy, clumsy and indefensible.”

  On the excuse of insecurity, the NEF viewed it as “failure,” because only a small fraction of the security personnel in the country are directly engaged in the fight against insurgency within the northeast enclave of the country.

    He raised the alarm that the ruling elite was hatching plans to scuttle the 2015 general election and derail the regular democratic institutions from functioning to serve the needs of Nigeria.

  The forum affirmed its position that the 2015 elections must hold within the time lines allowed by law, adding that on May 29, 2015, there must be a new administration at the federal and state levels based on credible, free and fair and transparent elections.”