INEC Chairman to resign following replacement reports?

One of the rumours is that the INEC boss might be planning to resign following recent reports that he might be removed from the top seat.

There have been several rumours surrounding Attahiru Jega’s status as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the postponement of the February 14 polls.

One of the rumours is that the INEC boss might be planning to resign following recent reports that he might be removed from the top seat.

Sources say that Jega might decide to leave the office instead of allowing a replacement process to take place.

An INEC official however denied the reports to Pulse saying:

"We are just hearing this for the first time, we are not aware of this".

Earlier reports had suggested that Olufemi Mimiko, brother of Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko might be Jega’s replacement. This has however not been confirmed.

Mimiko is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations and the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University in Ondo State.

INEC also shut down the replacement rumours stating that the ‘information is false’. Speaking Exclusively with Pulse, an INEC Staff who would rather remain anonymous said ‘No new chairman has been nominated’.

As regards further reports that the INEC Chairman might be forced to go on three months terminal leave on March 1, the spokesman for the Commission, Kayode Idowu, stated on Tuesday, February 9, that the civil service rules don’t apply to Jega and as such he would conduct the elections and serve until his tenure ends on June 30.

The Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections will hold on March 28 and April 11, respectively.