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abujagirl
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The House of Representatives on Tuesday advised the Federal Government not to remove the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, ahead of the 2015 polls.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Ali Ahmed (Kwara-APC), which also cautioned against further shift in the election dates.
Ahmed said removing Jega’s could snowball into violence, adding that such development would be inimical to the smooth conduct of the elections.
Ahmed, who quoted Section 157(1) of 1999 Constitution to support his argument, said it would be however unconstitutional to do so.
''Jega could only be removed if he is unable to discharge the functions of the office or charged for misconduct which must be determined by two-third majority of the Senate’’, he said.
According to the lawmaker, the postponement of the elections on account of security concerns had already heightened suspicion in the body polity, adding that nothing else should be done to hamper the process.
He said any change in the current arrangement and dates for the polls presented possibility for violence.
According to Ahmed, ''there is documented evidence from several sources that any change in the new dates of the elections could present danger. The government must ensure steps are taken to only encourage credible, free and fair elections’’, he said.
Although the majority of members adopted the motion, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, had over ruled a point of order raised by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP) on the matter.
Ogor, who fought hard to ensure the withdrawal of the motion, held that its content thrived on speculation.
He said the sponsor of the motion failed to establish an evidence to buttress his point to warrant the approval of the motion to be heard.
''The ruling party, the PDP is prepared to conduct credible, free and fair elections and need not to be urged in such a manner. It is also clear that neither the President nor the Head of Civil Service of the Federation is interested in the removal of the INEC Chairman’’, he said.
#PDP #INEC #Jega
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Ali Ahmed (Kwara-APC), which also cautioned against further shift in the election dates.
Ahmed said removing Jega’s could snowball into violence, adding that such development would be inimical to the smooth conduct of the elections.
Ahmed, who quoted Section 157(1) of 1999 Constitution to support his argument, said it would be however unconstitutional to do so.
''Jega could only be removed if he is unable to discharge the functions of the office or charged for misconduct which must be determined by two-third majority of the Senate’’, he said.
According to the lawmaker, the postponement of the elections on account of security concerns had already heightened suspicion in the body polity, adding that nothing else should be done to hamper the process.
He said any change in the current arrangement and dates for the polls presented possibility for violence.
According to Ahmed, ''there is documented evidence from several sources that any change in the new dates of the elections could present danger. The government must ensure steps are taken to only encourage credible, free and fair elections’’, he said.
Although the majority of members adopted the motion, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, had over ruled a point of order raised by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP) on the matter.
Ogor, who fought hard to ensure the withdrawal of the motion, held that its content thrived on speculation.
He said the sponsor of the motion failed to establish an evidence to buttress his point to warrant the approval of the motion to be heard.
''The ruling party, the PDP is prepared to conduct credible, free and fair elections and need not to be urged in such a manner. It is also clear that neither the President nor the Head of Civil Service of the Federation is interested in the removal of the INEC Chairman’’, he said.
#PDP #INEC #Jega
