Commission, 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 opportunity 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.
He thus said he was not interested in tenure renewal
and would not accept an offer of extension.
Jega said: "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 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 a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party,
Godsday Orubebe, at the National Collation Centre
in Abuja on Tuesday, Jega said he was unperturbed
because he knew he had nothing to hide.
He said: "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."
Jega was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan
in 2010 to replace Prof. Maurice Iwu.
His five-year tenure elapses in June this year.
Leadership.