Senators of the National Assembly, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) have alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party are on a plan to sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, next week.
Briefing newsmen on Thursday,the APC senators said only dishonest politicians will want Jega to be removed.
The Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Gorge Akume, along with other APC senators, informed newsmen that they have information from reliable sources of plans by the PDP-led administration to remove the INEC helmsman next week.
The lawmakers however warned that President Jonathan can only remove Jega with the support of two-third majority of the Senate.
Hear Akume: “We have received information from a very credible source that next week, the Chairman of INEC will be given a letter from the office of the Head of the Civil Service directing him to proceed on terminal leave.”
He alleged that the Federal Government was trying to use the circular from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, dated August 11, 2010 to place Jega on compulsory pre-retirement leave.
He added: “Whether the letter emanates from the HOS office or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, it does not make sense.
“Even if we go by the terms of the civil service circular of the 11th of August, 2010, it is not applicable whatsoever to the INEC chairman.”
Akume explained that the circular, with reference number HCSF/CMO/1772/TI/11, was talking about clarifications on pre-retirement leave, which is only applicable to tenured officers who are career civil servants.
He said anyone who had spent 30 years in service or had attained 60 years of age is bound to disengage officially from the service but that the case of Jega as a public servant with definite tenure of office is different.
