MASSOB: No polls in south-east unless Jega goes

The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has threatened that elections would not hold in the south-eastern part of the country unless Attahiru Jega is relieved of his post as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking on Wednesday at a press conference in Owerri, capital of Imo state, Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the movement, said Jega had never been prepared for a free and fair election, and his people would be on the receiving end.

“Despite strong allegations of bias against the INEC boss, Attahiru Jega, he is still preparing to conduct the forth coming general election,” he said.

“In such crisis, as usual, the safety of lives and property of Ndigbo in the north and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction.

“From the onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He demonstrated that by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than two-third of the polling units to the north.”

Uwazuruike went on to pick “holes” in INEC’s distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which “has been high in volatile northern states and low in peaceful southern states”.

“The governor of Plateau State, Mr Jonah Jang has taken INEC to court based on the fact that the PVCs meant for distribution in his state are yet to arrive. Other states governors are still complaining that PVCs meant for their states are yet to be printed,” he added.

“Jega wants to organise a kangaroo election where he intends to pronounce his preferred candidate the winner of the election. In so far as many believe that Jega has compromised, the only option left for him is to quit. He is not the only person that can conduct election in Nigeria. Any national commissioner of INEC can do so.

“If Jega so insists in conducting the elections, he may well conduct the forthcoming election only in the north. Jega cannot conduct a pre-determined election for the south.”

INEC said earlier on Wednesday that it could not say if Jega would be removed prior the election.