President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described as laughable insinuations that he intends to sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega or send him on terminal leave.
The President also assured Nigerians that the elections would hold on the rescheduled dates, while expressing optimism that the action against Boko Haram would be concluded in weeks, with the hope that the kidnapped Chibok girls may be rescued.
Speaking yesterday at his first presidential media chat this year, Jonathan said he appointed Jega as INEC helmsman and was certain that the professor of Political Science and his 12 national commissioners would do a good job with the 2015 elections.
Jonathan, who said he will leave office if he loses the coming presidential election, yet again, insisted that the May 29 hand over date remains sacrosanct.
He said there was no reason people should entertain doubts about the elections holding on the new dates.
The President explained that during the National Council of State meeting, the security chiefs emphasised on the issues of security and pointed out that they were not only restricted to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East geo-political zone, but also the security implication of non-issuance of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
“In Lagos, only 38 per cent of voters have PVCs. That means that if you conduct elections, only 62 per cent will vote,” he stated.