Senate warns Jega over polls
Prof. Attahiru Jega THE Senate has begun the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010, for the second time, with a stern warning to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to stop blaming the National Assembly for any hitch in the electoral process.
During yesterday’s plenary session where the First Reading of the second alteration was taken, the senators registered their displeasure over what they described as Jega’s sustained attempts to lay the blame for distortions in the electoral calendar at the doorsteps of the legislature.
The lawmakers complained that Jega’s recent utterances were capable of inciting public odium against the National Assembly in the handling of the amendment to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Senator Kanti Bello was the first to complain. He tendered a copy of a national newspaper which quoted the INEC boss as saying that preparations for the 2011 polls could be jeopardised, if the National Assembly did not effect the second amendment in a record time as requested by the commission a few weeks ago.
Drawing the attention of his colleagues to the likely inference from Jega’s statement, Bello regretted that the INEC chairman had formed the habit of making pronouncements capable of making the legislature the scapegoat in the event of any hiccup in the electoral calendar.
His position was echoed by Senators Abubakar Sodangi, Thomson Sekibo and Ayogu Eze. They described Jega’s statement as "distasteful" and an "unfair indictment" of the National Assembly despite the legislature’s timely response to the commission’s needs.
Sodangi (PDP-Nasarawa) said it was unfortunate for Jega to have made such comments. He called for an investigation.
Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) said: "I am seeing a conspiracy against the National Assembly. When people cannot do their job well, they shift the blame to NASS. And I also read that INEC has not even acquired the DDC machines.’’
Senate President David Mark said: "I think this is a very serious allegation. We have done everything humanly possible for INEC.
"We cut short our recess and approved its budget,’’ he said adding, "we don’t want to be seen as a stumbling block.
"He (Jega) should be told to clarify whatever he told the press. To label us this way, is totally uncalled for.
"I have not read the papers, but if what Kanti Bello is saying is what he said, then he should be called to order." He asked Bello to lay the paper before the Senate."
Mark referred the matter to the Committee on INEC, which has one week to report its findings to the Senate.
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