Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, has revealed that the Adamawa state house are still yet to notify INEC of the impeachment of Murtala Nyako as Governor of the state.
Mr Jega was talking yesterday in Abuja and revealed to journalists that his commision is yet to receive any notice of vacancy in Adamawa Government House.
He said: “The law is clear on that but as at Wednesday morning, INEC has not been formally notified of the impeachment. “The law provides for three months to hold election while the Speaker of the House of Assembly takes over within the period in case of where the Deputy Governor cannot act.
“We are law abiding and we will operate within the law if officially notified,” Mr. Jega said.
The chairman continued and that the winner of the said election could only stay till the end of Nyako’s tenure and then there would be another one during the 2015 general elections.
He also said that despite security concerns in the state, he is sure that his commision will make it happen, he said: “We are doing our best to prepare adequately to conduct election in every state in this country. “We have never said that election will not be conducted in these three states.
“We will cross the road when we get there. It is too early to speculate on where election will hold or not hold,” he said.
He also talked about the accusation by critics that he had militarised the Ekiti state elections, he said: “Obviously, there should be minimum participation of security personnel in election as obtainable in some countries, but in Nigeria we all know the security challenge and the electoral law required the presence of security personnel,” he said.
On the issue of the upcoming August 9th Osun election, he said that the military was needed as they are a recognised institution for the protection of the country.
“I want the security agencies to do everything possible to secure the electoral process in Osun state and in every state of the federation. “I also want them to protect electoral officers and election materials and ensure that the voting environment is peaceful to encourage people to vote’’, he said.
Professor Attahiru Jega is the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. INEC is responsible for the holding of election into political office in Nigeria.
They have come under fire over the last decade because of the way their elections are held, with candidates complaining of ballot thieves being around the venue of said elections and ballots being tampered with in several local governments.
However the recent election in Ekiti state was the first to be said to be the most cleanest election ever planned by the commission.
Military are recognised government agencies,so dey are highly needed in d conduct of our elections,our politicians are rogues and animals,sory to use dose words,