Despite apologizing to the nation, there were signs yesterday that the Federal Government is unhappy with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega.
Indication to this effect emerged from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which has publicly asked Jega to step down as INEC chairman.
The NHRC is wholly-owned Federal Government agency and its terse statement was seen as a ploy by the government to test the waters to demand Jega’s resignation.
In a statement by its Executive Secretary, Roland Ewubare, the NHRC said Jega’s excuse was untenable.
The NHRC Executive Secretary said: “Prof. Attahiru Jega’s position as Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is no longer tenable. He must now step down immediately in the national interest.
“Prof. Jega was given almost $1billion to run this election – and he can’t even get ballot papers printed on time? He has created a national fiasco of monumental significance.”
It could not be immediately ascertained at whose prompting the NHRC issued the statement.
A source said: “We may be in for a serious challenge in the next few days. With the kite flown by the National Human Rights Commission, it might be an agenda to ease out the INEC chairman.
“I think there is more to that statement by the Human Rights Commission which is being supervised by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“We may be back to the era of June 12 crisis with this agenda setting by the NHRC. There is no way the commission can issue a statement on a sensitive issue like this without the backing of some government officials.”
It was gathered that although Jega believed that the problems INEC was facing was logistic but some officials of the commission were suspecting sabotage.
A top source said: “Election management is money spinning with a lot of contracts here and there. Many people in government and INEC are uncomfortable with how Jega has stuck to due process and transparency.
“All contracts awarded are done strictly in accordance with business ethics. As far as Jega is concerned, you can make extra money from the system. That is why some people cannot rule out sabotage which INEC chairman doubted.”
It was also learnt that INEC management ran into trouble following crisis over the award of ballot papers.
The source said: “Some people have faulted the competence of some of those given the contracts for the ballot papers. There could have been sabotage from those who lost out in the bid for ballot papers.
“In fact, for the first time, the Nigerian Security, printing and Minting Company was not given ballot papers’ contract unlike the case in 2007.”
Another source claimed that there had been strong indications that some government officials had been worried over the loyalty of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega.
But Jega has insisted that he would conduct election with the fear of God and without bias to any group or person.
Investigation by our correspondent showed that a former National Commissioner of INEC had recently tried to implicate Jega by selling a dummy to some officials in the presidency that the INEC chairman could not conduct a successful poll and might be a stooge of a former Vice-President
It was gathered that the ex-INEC chief attempted to destabilize the electoral agency in line with a hidden agenda of some politicians.
Unsuspectingly, according to findings, some government officials fell for the bait. It was learnt that the affected officials later confronted Jega with the allegation which he promptly denied and demanded any proof to the contrary.
A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “With the exception of President Goodluck Jonathan, some officials in the presidency are doubting the loyalty of INEC chairman.
“Actually, these people recently accused Jega of being a boy of a former VP and might influence the poll in favour of a candidate.
“They leveled the allegation based on the tip-off of a former National Commissioner, who was central to how 2007 elections were flawed.
“Jega took time to explain that he has no relationship with the ex-VP and could not have been his ‘boy’ not to talk of doing his bidding.”
“Jega was quoted as saying: ‘I will remain loyal to God, my conscience, and Nigeria . Although the affected officials were convinced by Jega, they have been uncomfortable with his ‘rigid’ style.
“I can tell you that Jega’s integrity remains intact and that is why he tries to avoid personal interaction with politicians. And he has insulated all his aides from pressure.
“So, this suspected sabotage could have come from some those who do not trust INEC under Jega.
Investigation also revealed that INEC leadership retained virtually all those in charge of the 2007 elections with the assumption that the system was okay but the environment accounted for the flaws in the last poll.
“Many people have been warning INEC leadership about these elements behind 2007 poll. In fact, one of them, who was implicated in Ekiti N250m bribery scandal, was recently promoted.
“These bad eggs would have infiltrated the system and designed the process in such a way that Jega’s administration would fail.”
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National Human Rights Commission asks Jega to step down.