Don’t remove INEC Chairman, House of Reps warn FG

The House of Representatives has warned the Federal Government against removing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega.

The lower House gave the warning on Tuesday, March 3, adding that any further interference with INEC or the elections would result in violence.

This was contained in a resolution reached during the plenary session of the House.

The resolution read in part:

“Hold personally accountable at domestic judicial forum or at the International Court of Justice, any persons or organisations that foist on INEC any decision or action whatsoever, including unconstitutional attempt to remove the current INEC chairman, that has the effect of making it impracticable for elections to hold on 28th March and 11th April, 2015.”

“Such removal can only be achieved when two things happen, viz, (a) his inability to discharge the functions of the office, or (b) for misconduct, as determined by two-thirds of the Senate."

The resolution was said to have been challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but they failed to stop it.

“Some individuals are bent on ensuring that the elections do not hold or in the alternative, create scenarios that will make the conduct of the polls impossible for INEC,” the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal said, while commenting on the elections during a meeting with civil society groups.

“Some individuals are not interested in a free and fair process of elections. You should remember that people voted you into power; if the same people are saying go and rest through a free and fair process, then respect their decision,” Tambuwal added.

Reports have it that the FG has already chosen a National Commissioner of INEC, Amina Bala Zakari to replace Jega.