LAGOS AUGUST 10TH (URHOBOTODAY)-According a report by Nation newspaper, Mr Mike Igini, an Urhobo indegene of Delta State origin and other ten candidates are jostling to become the Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Beside Mike Igini other speculated candidates for the position are: Mrs. Zakari; two former National Commissioners (Lai Olurode and Nuru Yakubu); the Director-General of INEC Electoral Institute, Prof. Abubakar Momoh; Mr. Festus Okoye ( a human rights activist) and three unnamed candidates, Nation said.
The report also mentioned a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, who was the chairman of an Electoral Reform Committee raised by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, has been suggested for the job.
The race for the new INEC chair seems tougher as 13 National Commissioners, only four, including the Acting National Chairman, Mrs. Amina Zakari, remain in office with two out of the four -Mr. Chris Iyimoga and Amb. Mohammad Ahmad Wali- completing their five-year tenure today.
The federal character card will also determine who replaces Jega as it was reported that the there were issues on whether or not the President should appoint the INEC chairman from the North or the South.
“Of the six geo-political zones, only three have produced INEC chairman. The zones yet to produce one are: Northeast, Northcentral and Southwest. This is why ethnic or geo-political politics is beclouding the lobbying.
“The decision will be tough for the President because his predecessor, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, opted for a Northerner as INEC chairman. This is a template which cannot be ignored. Jonathan might have copied the template from former President Ibrahim Babangida, the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha; and ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar” a source told the newspaper.
“Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo however jettisoned the template when he appointed Guobadia and Iwu from the Southsouth and the Southeast. From the meticulous method Buhari has adopted in making appointments, merit and incorruptibility might be his yardsticks, irrespective of geo-political zones. Some of these candidates have started lobbying for the plum job. The search is, however, difficult by the standard set by Jega.
“As for geopolitical zone, as long as Buhari gets a competent hand, he can still appoint a new INEC chairman from the Northwest. If you look at past successive chief electoral officers, a South-south candidate has replaced another” the source added.
Here is a geo-political breakdown of past INEC chairmen
Chief Eyo Esua (1964-1966)—Southsouth; Chief Michael Ani (1979)—Southsouth; Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1983)—Southsouth; Prof. Eme Awa(1987-19890—South-East; Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (1989-1993)—Southeast; Prof. Okon Uya and Chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994-1998)—-Southsouth; Justice Ephraim Akpate (1998-2000)—Southsouth; Prof. Abel Guobadia(2000—2005)—Southsouth; Prof. Maurice Iwu (2005-2010)—Southeast; and Prof. Attahiru Jega (2010-2015).