Citizens Network Insists Jega Must Resign

13 Feb 2015 INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja Despite the confidence expressed by President Goodluck Jonathan in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPD) has insisted the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, should resign from the position. The network also called on the Auditor General of the Federation to audit activities of the commission, alleging that INEC violated Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts. Director-General of the network, Preye Dressman, while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, said it was not the duty of President Jonathan to exonerate Jega on allegations of bias levied against him. “The allegations are too weighty to be brushed aside, Jega owes Nigerians explanations on the many allegations against him before the elections and should rather resigned honourably since he cannot be trusted again,” he said. Dressman explained that the lapses and irregularities recorded in the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) was indeed a cause for concern. According to him, INEC could to be orchestrating systematic rigging of the coming elections to favour a preferred candidate and a party. “We have critically examined the issue of PVCs’ distribution and fail to identify any justification whatsoever for this oversight. “The onus falls on Jega to enlighten us on this rather unusual and unwholesome trend which portends nothing but chaos at the end of the day. “His (Jega) claims that INEC can detect irregularities in this regard are at best spurious and lacking total sincerity. The card readers pose yet another question regarding Jega’s true intention. How is it possible to accredit a minimum of 1, 000 people per polling booth with just one card reader? “Simple mathematics tells us that in five hours, only an estimated 300 people would have been accredited leaving other 700. Does this not signpost a grand plan to ensure the elections fail? If Jega’s recent statement is anything to go by that the extension in the date of the election would avail INEC the time to adequately train its personnel on the use of the machines, why then did Jega assured the nation that INEC was ready to conduct the elections weeks before the postponement? “In the event the machines break down midway into accreditation, what are the contingency plans in place?” He said. source : thisday