‘President trying to compromise INEC’, APC alleges

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of summoning the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega in order to compromise the agency’s integrity.

Jega was invited to a crucial meeting with the President and Nigeria's security chiefs in order to brief them on the elections.

The opposition party made the comments via a statement released on Wednesday, March 18, by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

The statement reads:

“Without the representatives of other political parties attending such meetings, irrespective of whether or not it is aimed at briefing security chiefs on the preparations for the polls, the ruling PDP and its presidential candidate are seeking to gain undue advantage over others ahead of the elections.”

“It is like the referee in a football match meeting with key officials of one of the teams ahead of the match. This is against the spirit of transparency and fairness and must stop forthwith.”

“Had the representatives of other political parties, apart from the PDP (the President is the leader of the PDP), attended the meeting, the widespread speculations that Jega’s life and job were threatened if he fails to drop the use of the card reader, as well as circulating reports that he will be removed before Saturday, would not have happened.”

The APC urged the President to ensure that any further meetings with Jega would also be attended by representatives of other political parties to prevent bias in the elections.