JEGA EMERGED AS INEC BOSS

The Senate has confirmed Prof. Attahiru Jega and six other nominees as chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission respectively.
It asked them to conduct free and fair elections in 2011.

Although Jega was screened on Wednesday for about four hours, he had to wait for the screening of the others on Thursday before he was confirmed.


Besides Jega, the members confirmed were Dr. Nuru Yakubu, Mrs. Thelma Iremiren, Prof. Olayiwola Olurode, Gladys Nwafor, Col. Hanamga Kurmi (rtd.) and Dr. Ishmael Igbani (reappointment).


President of the Senate, David Mark, said the nominees had repeatedly promised to uphold the tenets of the Constitution and the Electoral Law and urged them to abide by their promise.


“They need to be fair. They need to be transparent and they need to conduct a free and fair election in 2011,” he said.


Mrs. Amina Zakari and Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi were not screened because their CVs were not made available to the Senate.


Mark said they would be screened as soon as the presidency sends their CVs to the Senate.


Nwafor’s confirmation did not receive the approval of some female senators, especially Grace Bent and Chris Anyanwu, who were obviously displeased with her answers to questions.


Nwafor was jittery as she entered the Senate chambers and had problems handling the questions.


She also chose to bow her knees instead of her head while showing respect to the Senate as the practice is.


In spite of the nays coming from some quarters, the majority of senators voted for her confirmation.


Yakubu, while answering questions during the screening, emphasised that a credible voter register was key to free and fair elections.


He said, “I have no doubt that voter registration is as important as the election. It can be characterised as the gateway to free and fair election. If cleared, what I will do is to look at all the options and take the best decision in my opinion that will lead to a credible voter registration.”


Olurode, on his part, vowed not to compromise his positition as INEC national commissioner, saying he would rather die than compromise his integrity.