Lagos protesters demand Jega’s removal
Protesters yesterday marched through the streets of Lagos calling for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega. The rally which started at the old toll-gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, witnessed a large turnout of supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress […]
Protesters yesterday marched through the streets of Lagos calling for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.
The rally which started at the old toll-gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, witnessed a large turnout of supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).
Going by the name Coalition of Concerned Nigerians (CCN), they marched through Ojota along the popular Ikorodu road, to the National Stadium roundabout in Surulere.
The convener of the rally and factional leader of the OPC, Gani Adams, while addressing journalists, said Jega must proceed on terminal leave or be replaced because he was incompetent and bias.
“It is unfortunate that about five million Nigerians are yet to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the South West, over 2.5 million inSouth South and over two million in the South East,” he said.
Adams also alleged that Jega had issued over one million PVCs to foreign nationals, especially those from Cameroon, Chad and Niger. He however said the cards issued to the non-Nigerians had been retrieved by security agencies.
“Other reasons why we are calling on Jega’s sack include award of sensitive INEC materials’ contracts to foreign companies traced to some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, as well as his initial insistence that election must hold on February 14, 2015 when he knew quite well that 34 per cent of Nigerians, many of whom were in the South west, were yet to collect their voters’ cards,” he said.
Adams denied that the rally was sponsored by the ruling PDP, saying that the protesters are concerned Nigerians.
Our reporter observed that hundreds of PDP members used the opportunity of the rally to campaign for President Jonathan’s re-election, and the election of the Lagos State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje. They carried the candidates’ placards, and distributed leaflets.
Adams has betrayed us
However, members of the National Coordinating Council of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), the highest ruling body of the organisation, yesterday denounced Adams for organising the protest.
In a statement read by Comrade Shina Akinpelu the council disassociated the OPC from the “shameful, destructive, violent and reactionary activities of the Gani Adam-led team.”
He added: “What was witnessed today in Lagos was the highest level of political violence sponsored and funded by certain elements in the Jonathan government.
“Gani Adams is on his own and does not enjoy the support of a large size of our membership spread across the country.
“He is working for the sponsors of violence against our people who want the March 28 elections not to hold. Unleashing terror on innocent citizens and killing them is not the way of democracy. It is not our idea of a people-oriented advocacy.
“Gani Adams is on dubious project. He is using the Pipeline contract from the Jonathan government as a ploy or excuse to recruit people to work for Jonathan and PDP in the South West.
“The Yoruba interest is beyond contracts. We seek justice and fairness from the current government.”