Drama As Buhari Overrules Jega On INEC Handover [Photo]

It was the end of an era, yesterday, when the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, formally handed over to Amb. Ahmed Wali as  acting chairman of the electoral body.

Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega (right) handing over to the former Acting Chairman, Ahmed Wali during the handover ceremony on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at the commission’s Headquarters in Abuja. (Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan)

Following the handover, Jega said the future of the country and the commission were in safe hands.

However, after about eight hours as acting chairman, Wali was replaced as acting chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari who designated another national commissioner, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman.

Jega, who was appointed five years ago by former President Goodluck Jonathan, bowed out with six national commissioners who were appointed the same day with him.

The commissioners who retired with Jega yesterday were Cojl. M.K. Hammanga (Adamawa), Dr Ishmael Igbani (Rivers), Prof. Lai Olurode (Osun), Dame Gladys Nwafor (Abia), Mrs Thelma Iremiren (Delta) and Dr Nuru Yakubu (Yobe).

Speaking with newsmen shortly after he bowed out, Jega expressed appreciation for the opportunity given to him and other INEC management staff to serve the country.

He said:

“We feel great; we thank God Almighty for the opportunity to serve the country. The future is bright for the commission and the country.”

Though the brief hand-over ceremony was a closed-door event, secretary to the commission, Augusta Ogakwu, told Vanguard that it was just for the former chairman to hand over to another person since the Federal Government has not appointed a substantive chairman for the commission.

She explained that Wali was selected because his tenure will expire on August 11 with the hope that by then  the government may have taken a decision on who to give the responsibility of running the commission for the next five years, not knowing that the president would kick against the move.