I am not working for any candidate — Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Saturday denied working for any presidential candidate. Jega, who spoke on a television programme in Abuja, was asked whether he had heard the rumour that he was working for either the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, President Goodluck Jonathan; or the presidential candidate of the Congress for Political Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). He denied the allegation, saying he was only working for the interest of the entire country. Jega said, “Everything we have done in the commission is targeted at the good intention of Nigeria. We have no vested interest. We are not partisan at all. Our attention is on the elections and we are happy that we are doing very well.” Jega also denied the allegation that there were secret registrations in some states. “There was no secret registration anywhere. Where there was illegal registration, we have destroyed it. In Ibadan, we could not defend what happened where our ICT staff was caught using our DDC machine for illegal job. “He was involved in fake registration and we have done with him. Yes, there are bad eggs in the commission, but we are demonstrating our ability to make sure that we get things done. The majority of our workers are good people.” Jega said he hoped to abide by his promise to release all the results of elections conducted on Saturday and the subsequent ones. Meanwhile, the INEC chairman has said the turnout of voters for the National Assembly polls was impressive. He also said he was working with security agencies to arrest and prosecute a serving senator from Bayelsa State, who allegedly diverted corps members and electoral materials to his private residence. He said reports reaching him from across Nigeria showed that Nigerians were still committed to the electoral process. Jega put the percentage of voters who turned out to vote across Nigeria at “between 75 and 85 percent,” adding that it was impressive. “There were few places where attempts were made in Delta and Bayelsa states to snatch ballot boxes. “In fact, a sitting senator is involved in such an attempt and we are talking with security agencies with a view to prosecuting him,” he disclosed. He lamented the death of 13 persons, mostly youth corps members who died in the Suleja blast, and announced that the election in Suleja area was postponed till April 26 because of the death and injury to those who were supposed to be in the field for the election. By OLUSOLA FABIYI and JOHN ALECHENU Courtesy Of: Punch