I Wont Serve Another Term As INEC Chairman - Jega

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, says he would not serve another term in the same capacity, even if his tenure was renewed.

Jega who spoke in Abuja on Thursday night, said another person should be given the opportunity to serve after his tenure ends in June.


“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 would 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 would not do it, by God’s grace,” Jega said.

Jega, who anchored the March 28 presidential election, admitted that the INEC task was a difficult one, adding that he was not interested in tenure renewal and would not accept an offer of extension.

He 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 the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Mr Godsday Orubebe, at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, Jega said he was unperturbed because he knew he had nothing to hide.

“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,” he added.

On the 28 of March 2015, under Professor Jega's leadership, elections were conducted in what Nigerians and World see as free, fair and credible which declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari as winner defeating the Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

Professor Jega was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 to replace Professor Maurice Iwu. His five-year tenure elapses in June this year.