Senators from Nigeria’s main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed concern about reports suggesting that the government plans to force Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to go on vacation in a bid to scuttle the March 28 election.
Senator Ibrahim Musa says the opposition party will not accept any attempt by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the electoral commission in the run up to the election.
He said the PDP initially denied rumors that the February 14 vote would be postponed until INEC did so citing security concerns.
“This thing is starting as a rumor. That is why we decided to come out to attack the PDP government. Let us tell the whole world that this is the plan of the Jonathan administration that they want to remove Jega to make him not conduct the March 28 and April 11 elections. That is why we the APC senators felt very much concerned,” said Musa.
His comments follow reports that a new chairman of the electoral commissioner would be appointed to take over after Jega is sacked or forced to go on vacation.
Musa said the APC is determined to thwart any effort by the PDP to pressure INEC to once again postpone the election indefinitely as being speculated.
The government joined INEC to deny plots to remove the chairman of the electoral body ahead of the election.
Local media quoted officials at the office of the president as saying, “The rumored sack of Jega is not from the presidency but part of the propaganda by the opposition to soil the good name of the president, to discredit the government and cause trouble.”
Supporters of the PDP rejected the accusation saying this is yet another attempt by the opposition to create mischief, which they said could worsen tension ahead of the March election.
They demanded the APC senators provide proof that supports their allegation that Jega would be fired or forced to go on vacation.
Musa said he is not surprised by the government’s denial.
“They can tell you anything that they want to do this thing, but they will tell you they are not doing it. When we said that there would be no election on February 14 because of their plan they said no. But what happened now? He asked.
Citing security reasons INEC postponed the election from February 14 to March 28 for the presidential election.
