Ahmed: Jega’s removal will lead to chaos

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled Federal Government not to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, before the general elections.
To him, such a removal will lead to chaos.
Speaking in Ilorin, the state capital, he said: “The issue of Jega’s engagement should be handled with sensitivity and not just rely on some civil service procedures. I think the sensitivity of the role of Jega in today’s electoral process is so crucial that we cannot handle his exit with levity, especially as the current electoral process is drawing a lot of attention both locally and internationally.
“So, it is very important that we ensure that the right things are done to ensure that this electoral process is allowed to follow its course as encapsulated in the new time table, both the umpire and the processes are allowed to go on accordingly.
“We are all aware that firstly, the desire not to allow elections to go on as originally scheduled has sent some negative pictures to people’s minds with respect to preparedness and seriousness and sincerity to carry out this election.
“However, with the unfolding events that we have been seeing, we want to believe that not only is the federal government ready to carry on with this election programmes as put together in the new timetable but also ensure that the umpire does his job accordingly and I was also watching the Coordinating Minister of Information who said that the Federal Government has no plan to change Jega other than the usual exit process which, of course, we know that as a political office holder as you go in, you have a way of going out. There are times that are stipulated for your stay. But be that as it may, we are aware that some stakeholders are not comfortable with Jega’s preparedness for election. We have seen how attempts have been made in picking holes with the current arrangement process which has been adjudged, I repeat, which had been adjudged to be better than the preparation we had in 2011.
“But be that as it may, the consequence of replacing him is like changing the rules in the middle of the game which I think will affect negatively people’s perception to seriousness in ensuring a proper electoral process and ultimately good governance in Nigeria.”