by Iyobosa Omoregie
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, insists that President Goodluck Jonathan lacks the constitutional power or authority to terminate the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega.
According to the coalition, the postponement of the elections earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28, not only “evoked dark memories of past military dictatorships” but has also “thrown up various constitutional and political challenges that undermine and subvert our fledgling democracy.”
While addressing a press conference in Abuja, on Thursday, February 12, the group said they will attack any move to force out Jega as chairman of the electoral commission before the forthcoming general elections.
The statement which was signed by the Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate the fact that the President of Nigeria has no constitutional power or authority to remove the Chairman of INEC.”
“INEC is not a civil service institution, it is a public institution whose actions are covered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, the call for pre-retirement of Prof. Jega before the elections, will not and cannot be sustained. We as the civil society are ready to stand for that.”
“Since the announcement of this dubious postponement, Nigeria has effectively been in a state of suspended animation. In the last few days alone, we have seen the effect of postponed elections on our economy, our politics, our society and our collective state of emotional and psychological well-being.”
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