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According to the available information, the embattled INEC Chairman had opted to resign several times before the 2015 election following unflattering practices attributed to his person and office. The latest round of accusation against the INEC Chairman comes amid calls for his resignation over broad allegations of bias from groups across the country. Many of the groups alleged that Prof Jega’s actions had showed his bias against the southen regions of Nigerian and against political parties who are not in-line with the All Progressive Congress [APC]. One of the groups who spoke to 247ureports.com indicate that the INEC Chairman had aided the merger process of the APC in a fashion that went beyond the duties of an INEC chairman. “Prof Jega was holding closed door meetings with members of the would-be APC on how to properly apply for the merger of the three parties in a legal manner” said the leader who went on to add that Prof Jega was “in fact assisting them to collect the necessary items” they needed to complete the application process. “He was acting as an associate of the party”.

The security report on Prof Jega prior to his becoming the INEC chairman – which was leaked out of the State Security Service [SSS] offices indicating that Prof Jega may have not been an upright operator as thought – has caused many within the INEC to take a closer look at the chairman. According to the report by the SSS, it was gathered that while Prof Jega served as the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, he engaged in contract fraud and other related financial crimes. Particularly, it was gathered that many of the awards of contracts for infrastructural development within the university campus was awarded to companies owned by Prof. Jega. The companies were operated as fronts by many of Jega’s extended family members and friends.

The sharp practices contained in the report was brought to the attention of the President by the agents of the SSS. President Jonathan was not pleased with the contents of the security report. But it took the intervention of the Principal Secretary to the Presidency, Hassan Tukur who impressed on President Jonathan that the addition of Prof Jega would be an added bonus to the integrity of the INEC. The President heeded to the plea of Hassan Tukur – and announced the appointment of Prof Jega as the new INEC chairman.

But Jega’s announcement as the new INEC chairman came with its bit of drawbacks for the President. This is as the INEC Chairman remained at an arms length away from the President. The INEC Chairman, unlike he other INEC chairmen that came before him, developed a cold relationship with the President. According to sources, Prof. Jega would only brief the President on the progress reports and/or status reports on a biweekly basis – and nothing more. “He did not consult the President on any matters – neither did he attempt to develop a cordial relationship with the president. Prof Jega’s demeanor towards the President, according to sources, concerned some of the handlers of the Presidency who saw Jega’s attitude as suspicious and unhealthy for the institution of the INEC. When the President was alerted on the possible suspicious demeanor of the INEC Chairman, the President was quick to refer them to Hassan Tukur’s assurance that Prof. Jega was not a worry.

However with the built up the 2015 presidential elections, Prof Jega’s attitude began to lose its shell – and began to show its true intentions. It gradually started to become clearer to the presidency that Prof. Jega may have been working with the opposition party in seeking to return power to the core north. The exercise to selectively increase the number of polling units in the northern region of the country raised eyebrows – as to the reasons behind the abrupt decision by the INEC chairman. The fast actions of National commissioners from the southern regions of the country halted the INEC Chairman from proceeding to implement his desired to populate the northern part of the country with the larger majority of the polling units. It took the arm twisting of the INEC Chairman to back-down from the decision.