Loud ovation as Jega exits INEC, Wali steps in as acting chairman

Professor Attahiru Jega bowed out on Tuesday amidst encomiums and commendations the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Six national commissioners- M.K. Hammanga, Adamawa state, (northeast); Ishmael Igbani, Rivers state, (south south); Lai Olurode, Osun state, (south west); Gladys Nwafor, Abia state, (south east); Thelma Iremiren, Delta state, (south south); and Nuru Yakubu, Yobe state, (north east) also quit the Commission alongside Jega due to the expiration of their tenure.

Jega who was appointed chairman of INEC in 2010 handed over the chairmanship of the Commission to Mohammed Wali, a national commissioner of the electoral body from the north-west region of Nigeria in Abuja headquarters of the electoral body.

Though he is entitled to a renewal of his appointment for another five years, Jega had immediately after the 2015 general elections adjudged to be one of the most credible conducted in the country, indicated that he is not ready to stay a day longer as head of the electoral agency.

Jega, a former vice-chancellor of the Bayero University Kano (BUK) and a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had indicated that he would be returning to the classroom after leaving INEC.

The 2011 general elections, the first conducted by Jega was also generally acknowledged to be better than the preceding ones.

The acting INEC Chairman obtained his first degree from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira.

Wali was elected into the senate in 1999 and was appointed to committees on selection, senate services, public accounts, defense and federal character and also served as the senate leader between June 1999 and November 1999.

He contested the governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and was appointed minister for the national planning commission (NPC) and later deputy chairman in 2007.

He has also served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Morocco.

Wali’s tenure as commissioner and as acting chairman will end on August 11, 2015 if President Buhari has not appointed a substantive chairman for the Commission before then.