I Will Not Accept Tenure Renewal - Jega

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has declared that he would not serve another term as boss of the electoral body when his first tenure expires in June, even if he is asked.

Speaking in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Hausa) last night which was monitored by our reporter in Abuja, Jega said having played his role in the political space for five years, it was time another person was given the chance to contribute his own quota.

The nation’s chief electoral officer in the just-concluded March 28 presidential election acknowledged that the task of leading INEC was a difficult one, and said he was not interested in tenure renewal and would not accept an offer of extension.

“I am grateful to God. I was asked to come and contribute my own quota to the national development and I have done my bit to the best of my ability.

“Whatever assignment one will do for five years – just like this difficult one, to me if one is able to successfully accomplish the task, someone else should be given the opportunity, because for me I am not interested and if I am requested to serve again, I will not do it, by God’s grace,” Jega said.

He noted that the introduction of the card reader device in the 2015 general elections had significantly helped to make the presidential election transparent, adding that there were few challenges that would be looked into in the forthcoming governorship/state assembly elections, including late coming attitude of electoral officials to polling centres.

Commenting on the allegations of bias against him by PDP chieftain, Mr Godsday Orubebe, at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, Jega said he was unperturbed because he knew he had nothing to hide.

“I maintained my calmness because I knew all the allegations were false. There is nothing that frightens me or disturbs me because, of all our actions, we have explanations for them,” he added.

Jega was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 to replace Prof Maurice Iwu. His five-year tenure elapses in June this year.