Jega calls emergency INEC meeting

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission will Tuesday (today) hold an emergency management meeting among senior staff.

Although other details of the meeting were sketchy on Monday, The PUNCH was informed that INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, called the meeting to clarify allegations that he was promoting northern agenda through lopsided appointments and contracts.

A source said, “Part of the issues to be discussed include the alleged promotion of the agenda of the North and plan to ensure that the election favours the  North in the 2015 general elections.”

Several groups have  alleged irregularities, disparities and inequalities in the distribution of top management cadre in INEC.

An activist, Dr. Ademola Babajide, said, “How on earth can it be explained that as educated as the people of the South-West of this country are, none is qualified to occupy any of the key positions of a Director of key department of INEC?

“If a southerner were to be the chairman at the moment, would the other stakeholders accept this type of insensitivity of grabbing and retaining virtually all key positions relevant to the conduct of election, a matter that requires significant trust-building?”

Also employees of the commission, under the aegis of Concerned INEC Staff, had, in an undated petition to the Chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, Andy Uba, accused Jega of carrying out a selective reorganisation of the body with a strong bias against the South.




-- Punch