The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), says it would not allow elections to hold in the South if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega is not sacked.
Speaking, Wednesday, at a world press conference held at the MASSOB headquarters annex, New Owerri, Imo State, leader of the group, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike said the resolve of his group stemmed from the various allegations of bias leveled against the INEC boss.
In his address entitled Jega Must Go, Uwazuruike said “it has become increasingly worrisome that despite strong allegations of bias against the INEC boss, Attahiru Jega, he is still preparing to conduct the forthcoming general elections.”
Uwazuruike said that the worry stemmed from the fact that the election conducted by the INEC boss would lack credibility and would unavoidably put the nation into serious crisis.
“In such crisis as usual the safety of live and property of Ndigbo in the North and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction.
“From the onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He demonstrated that by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than two-third of the polling units to the North. Despite public outcry, the Senate also passed a resolution stating that the polling units should not be used. Still Jega went ahead and converted the polling units to voting centres in the North,” he said.
The MASSOB leader also pointed out that Prof Jega was able to distribute more than 90 percent of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the North, including Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states were there are raging insurgency but such level of success had not been replicated in the South before the elections were shifted.
“The Governor of Plateau State, Mr Jonah Jang has taken INEC to court based on the fact that the PVCs meant for distribution in his state is yet to arrive. Besides, other states governors are still complaining that PVCs meant for their states are yet to be printed.
“Jega wants to organise a kangaroo election where he intends to pronounce his preferred candidate the winner of the election.
“This much has been stated by the leaders of the South-East, South-South Leaders Forum led by Chief Edwim Clark. The Forum also exhibited evidences of the minutes of meetings by Jega and members of Northern Elders Forum. Till date Jega is yet to refute the allegations,” he said.
Uwazuruike said that his group was disturbed by the catastrophe his agenda might provoke, saying that the impending calamity could be avoided by Jega quitting.
“In as much as many believe that Jega has compromised, the only option left for him is to quit. He is not the only person that can conduct election in Nigeria. Any national commissioner of the INEC can do so.”
“If Jega so insists in conducting the elections he may well conduct the forthcoming elections only in the North. Jega cannot conduct a pre-determined election for the South,” Uwazuruike said.
The MASSOB leader warned that if the upcoming election is not well managed it would snowball into crisis, which he said would see the Igbo as major casualty.