From Kunle Akogun and Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 07.21.2010
Fresh from its retreat in Calabar, Cross River State, where the Indepe-ndent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chiefs met to map out strategies for the 2011 polls, the commission’s Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega yesterday read out the riot act to the 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
He told them not to accept or seek any form of assistance from state governors.
Also yesterday, as part of preparations for the elections, Jega redeployed the 19 newly-appointed RECs and their 17 counterparts hitherto at the commission.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new RECs, the INEC chairman charged the commissioners not to seek or receive any gift from the state governors, saying doing so would compromise their integrity and independence.
Jega said: “The practice by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the past of going cap-in-hand to state governors for assistance is to be discouraged because it is capable of undermining your independence.
“RECs are advised to get in touch with the National Headquarters to address whatever problems they may face. Even in instances where assistance is freely offered as is done to other federal agencies, approval for accepting such assistance must be obtained from the commission.”
Only last week, former Cross River State governor and one of the major actors in the country’s electoral process, Mr. Donald Duke, gave a gathering of pro-democracy activists at an event in Abuja a low-down on how governors rigged elections.
He said the dalliance between governors and RECs ensure elections are rigged.
Duke said: “This is what happens; the Resident Electoral Commissioner is usually from another state. The electoral officers, they move around. They are usually from that state, but for the conduct of elections itself, you would probably move from Cross River to Akwa Ibom or to Abia, but these musical chairs don’t mean nothing.
”When the Resident Electoral Commissioner comes before the elections are conducted- of course when he comes to the state, usually, he has no accommodation; monies have not been released for the running or conduct of the elections and all that because we always start late.
He pays a courtesy call on the governor. It’s usually a televised event you know, and of course he says all the right things. ‘Your Excellency, I am here to ensure that we have free and fair elections and I will require your support.”
Jega said his directive to the RECs is necessary in order to maintain the independence of INEC, saying, “you will agree with me that such measures are essential in ensuring public confidence in your work.”
He also urged RECs to exercise caution in their relationship with the state governors, explaining that this directive is as a result of reports reaching the commission.
Jega said the most important task before the commission as it prepares for the 2011 elections is the display of the voters’ register.
“One of the most important priorities facing us now is to display the existing voters register across the country. The success of this exercise would depend on you. You are therefore requested to make a serious assessment of your operational readiness and capabilities at the state and local government offices for this exercise and subsequent ones as we move towards the election.”
He said INEC believes that credible elections are not only feasible, but it is incumbent on the commission to strive to do its best in ensuring the elections are credible, urging them to bear that in mind.
The INEC boss said the swearing-in and redeployment of RECs is geared towards repositioning the commission to deliver free, fair and credible elections in 2011 and beyond in Nigeria.
The newly sworn-in RECs are Prof. C.E. Onukaogu (Abia), Prof. Tukur Sa'ad (Adamawa), Ahmad Makama (Bauchi), Mr. Mike Igini (Delta), Prof. Selina Omagha Oko (Ebonyi), Mr. Edwin Offor Nwartarali ( Enugu ), Alhaji Yakubu Shehu (Kaduna), Alhaji Jibril Ibrahim Zarewa (Kano), Hassan Ahmed Mahuta (Katsina), Abubakar Umar Garba Wara (Kebbi) and Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo (Kogi).
Others are Ambassador (Dr.) Rufus O. Akeju (Lagos), Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Danyaya (Niger), Mr. Timothy A. Ibitoye (Osun), Dr. A.L. Ogunmola (Oyo), Dr. Rose Obuoforibo (Rivers), Mallam Haliru A. Tambawei (Sokoto), Mallam Kassim Gana Galdam (Yobe) and Ibrahim Bagobiri Marafa (Zamfara).
The oath of office was administered on them by INEC Director of Legal Services Ibrahim Bawa.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has made good his promise to replace two INEC nominees he dropped before they could be screened by the Senate over allegation of partisanship.
In an official communication he sent to the Senate President David Mark and read to the senators before the commencement of yesterday's plenary, Jonathan urged the Senate to confirm the nominations of Ambassador Mohammed Wali from Sokoto (North-west) and Dr. Christopher Ehimoga from Nasarawa (North-central) as INEC National Commissioners.
The two are to replace Ambassador Mohammed Anka and Maj. Gen. Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman who were dropped in June over their membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The remaining INEC nominees have since been screened and approved by the Senate and sworn in by the President.
Also yesterday, the President sought Senate’s approval for two nominees into the Supreme Court, Justices S. Galadima (North-central) and B. Rhodes-Vivor (South-west) to replace retired Justices Idris Kutigi and A. Aderemi respectively.
Jonathan urged the Senate to give the nominees' screening accelerated consideration.
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