I Won't Accept To Be INEC Chairman Again -JEGA

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has declared that he would not serve another term as chairman of the electoral body when his first tenure expires in June, even if he is asked to do so by the new government.

Speaking in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Hausa) which was monitored in Abuja, Jega stated that having played his role in the political space for five years, it was now time for another person to be given the chance to contribute his own quota.

“I am grateful to God. I was asked to come and contribute my own quota to the national development and I have done my bit to the best of my ability.
“Whatever assignment one will do for five years – just like this difficult one, to me if one is able to successfully accomplish the task, someone else should be given the opportunity, because for me I am not interested and if I am requested to serve again, I will not do it, by God’s grace.” Jega said in his words

He also noted that the introduction of the card reader device in the 2015 general elections had significantly helped  and improved things to make the presidential election transparent, adding that there were few challenges that would be looked into in the forthcoming governorship/state assembly elections, including late coming attitude of electoral officials to polling centres.

Commenting on the allegations of bias against him by PDP chieftain, Mr Godsday Orubebe, at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, Jega said he was unperturbed because he knew he had nothing to hide.

“I maintained my calmness because I knew all the allegations were false. There is nothing that frightens me or disturbs me because, of all our actions, we have explanations for them,” he added.