Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega on Tuesday held a crucial meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, other security chiefs inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A close source in the Villa told our correspondent that Jega was billed to brief the meeting of the Security Council on the latest in the commission’s preparation for the forthcoming general elections.
Security chiefs are also expected to brief the meeting on the success so far recorded in their anti-terrorism war and preparations for the elections also.
The meeting which started a few minutes after11am has in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, Gen. Jones Arogbofa (retd.); National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke (SAN); Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.
Others in attendance are Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; as well as the heads of the Department of State Security and the National Intelligence Agency.
At about 2.22pm, Jega emerged from the meeting after presumably briefing the members on his commission’s preparation for the elections.
He was accompanied by two top officials who attended the meeting with him.
When State House correspondents asked him about the meeting, the INEC boss simply said, “I believe it went well.”
He did not answer subsequent questions relating to the use of card reader during the elections and the level of the commission’s preparedness as he made his way out of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The security meeting is still ongoing.
