Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has said that President Goodluck Jonathan can sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega if he wishes to do so.
Fayose also added that the President would not face any consequences for sacking Jega despite widespread outrage at the calls for his removal.
The governor made the comments via a statement released on Wednesday, March 4, by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.
The statement reads:
“It is on record that Prof Maurice Iwu was asked to proceed on terminal leave two months to the end of his tenure? Is Jega not a beneficiary of Iwu’s removal? So if Iwu was asked to go on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure for Jega to assume office, what difference does it make if Jega too is asked to proceed on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure?”
“It is the president that can determine whether or not Jega will go on the mandatory three months terminal leave which should commence on March 8, and if the president decides that the INEC chairman should go on terminal leave, what can the APC loudmouths do?”
“They boasted before the postponement of the elections that they would go on street protests, but did they do anything? They made noise when Justice Isa Ayo Salami was removed from office as president of the Court of Appeal, what did their noise amount to?”
“Therefore, let me say it categorically that the noise being made by the APC and their agents will amount to nothing because if the president removes Jega today, heavens will not fall.”
Reports have it that the Presidency is planning to force Jega to go on terminal leave this week to pave way for his replacement.
President Goodluck Jonathan has however said that he has no intention of removing the INEC chairman.
