How Jega Foiled Attempt to Disrupt Announcement of Result

There was confusion at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, on Tuesday morning when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), reconvened to announce the remaining results from the states.

Everything was set when suddenly former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, seized the microphone and accused the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega of bias.

According Orubebe, a petition was sent to the INEC chairman by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), requesting for investigation into the results released from key northwest states of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa and Kano, but was not accepted by the chairman.

He said whereas a petition sent by All progressives Congress (APC), concerning the controversial election in Rivers State was promptly acted upon with a team immediately dispatched to the state to investigate.

Orubebe, consequently, created an ugly scene, insisting that collation would not go ahead as they have lost confidence in the INEC chairman.

The former Minister who is a PDP chieftain refused all entreaties from everyone who appealed to him to be calm saying he would not leave. At a stage he sat on the bare floor and refused to hand over the microphone even to security officials insisting that Jega must respond to the allegations.

It took over 30 minutes before normalcy was restored while throughout the time, Jega maintained his cool which perhaps saved the day.

Reacting, Jega dismissed the allegation, saying one Dr. Bello Fadile, a PDP agent contrary to the rule gave a petition to his PA from the PDP after yesterday’s session.

However, Jega said he asked his PA to return the document as all letters/petitions are to be submitted to his secretary in the office and not at the collation centre.

Jega also dismissed accusation that he gave results to APC that the party has released on its website.

“As I sit with you now, I have not received anything (PDP petition) from the secretary.

“For you to engage me on this issue frankly, is not fair to me. Let us not disrupt a process that has ended peacefully,” he said.