The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said that he will resign if there is too much pressure on him on the 2011 general election.
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said that he will resign if there is too much pressure on him on the 2011 general election.
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Speaking in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, (Hausa Service) monitored in Lagos, he said: “No one has so far has approached me with any impossible demand yet. I pray that such would never happen.
“Since the day I assumed office no one has asked me to do anything against my wish and hope it will never happen because if I am asked to do the wrong thing, God knows I will never do it. I will never do anything that will make me go against the Code of Conduct and that is why I accepted this job.
“So, I swore with the Holy Qur’an that I will do the job sincerely and truthfully and there is nothing that will make me do otherwise. I assure the people that INEC as an institution would never compromise. We will organise a credible election.”
He insisted that no one would be allowed to manipulate the election, warning that anyone who tries it would face the law.
On the controversy that trailed his trip to Bayelsa State in company of President Goodluck Jonathan to flag off the on-going voter registration exercise, Jega said nothing was wrong with traveling there with Jonathan.
“My obligation as INEC chairman is to suppervise the registration of voters. I was there not because he is a presidential candidate but,because he is the President and we must accord him that respect given to him by God,” Jega said.
Furthermore, he said there was need for Mr. President to register in his ward in Bayelsa because it was not possible for him to do it in Abuja.
Asked if the commission will extend similar courtesy to other presidential candidates, he said: “But remember, you said the President went to Bayelsa and flagged off the voter registration exercise. That is different from a candidate inviting me to flag it off. No matter who the President is, we must give him that respect.”
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