Jega leaves office, Wali takes over

Professor
Attahiru
Jega's tenure
as the
chairman of the Independent
National
Electoral
Commission (INEC) has come to an end.The
former
INEC boss,
who took
over from
Professor Maurice Iwu, assumed office on June 8,
2010 during the former President Goodluck
Jonathan's administration.
Professor Jega officially handed over leadership to
the commission's National Commissioner,
Ambassador Mohammad Wali, on Tuesday.
Under his tenure, the electoral body conducted the
election that brought former President Goodluck
Jonathan in and the March and April 2015 general
elections that brought President Muhammadu
Buhari in.
During his tenure, the INEC made remarkable input
in the growth of Nigeria's democracy, as both the
general elections of 2011 and 2015 were adjudged
credible by observers.
He will be remembered for his introduction of the
Permanent Voters Card and the use of card readers
for accreditation of voters during the last elections.
Not much has been heard about the Chairman of
INEC since the successful conduct of the general
elections two months ago.
At a forum organised by university Vice Chancellors
last week, Professor Jega, spoke on his next move
after his tenure.
He also told journalists what informed the choice of
Professors as returning officers during elections.
"We know that anybody who has risen in the system
and developed a career and became a Vice
Chancellor will not for anything damage his or her
reputation by pandering to the wishes of politicians.
That is why we decided to make them returning
officers and we are very pleased that they have done
this country proud.
"I am looking forward to taking a leave and resting
and then going back to my job in the university -
Teaching, research and community service,"
Professor Jega stated.
His successor, Ambassador Wali hails from Sanyima
town in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto
State, north-west Nigeria.
Before his appointment as INEC National
Commissioner, Ambassador Wali was an Associate
Professor at the Department of Political Science,
Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and Chief
Executive Officer, Development Strategies
International (DSI).
He is a member of various committees of INEC and
the Chairman of the Tenders Board.
However, he would be acting as the INEC Chairman
till the end of his tenure in August 11, 2015.