Leave Me Out Of INEC N74B Controversy - Iwu

ABUJA, August 09, (THEWILL) - Professor Maurice Iwu, a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today asked that he be left out of the controversy surrounding the N74 billion budget for the voters’ registration. He described reports quoting him condemning the budget as the handiwork of mischief-makers and those of business and political interests.

Professor Iwu who has kept a low profile since after he was forced out office reacted today against stories in two Nigerian Newspapers that he had slammed as counter-productive the ongoing attempt to embark on a fresh voter registration exercise in the country.

He spoke through a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Emma Mbah. According to him, Professor Iwu had neither granted any interview nor issued any press statement on the raging controversy.

The former electoral boss further accused political and business interests in the proposed voters' register of trying to twist the handover note he made in good faith, to score cheap political points.

He said the handover note was compiled before the appointment of his successor and submitted even prior to the plan for a fresh voters' register.

The former Chairman holds the opinion that his successor, Prof. Attahiru Jega knows how best to continue from where he stopped adding that it is in the interest of this country and the nation's democracy to allow him do his possible best the way he deems fit.

Nigeria’s National Assembly is due to reconvene from its plenary break on Tuesday to consider and approve the appropriation of N74billion requested by Professor Attahiru Jega to review the voters register ahead of the 2011 general elections scheduled for January.