NO PRESSURE ON JEGA TO RESIGN - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)Presidential Campaign Council, (PCC) has denied media reports that President Goodluck Jonathan and  the  PDP were mounting pressures on the National Chairman of the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega to resign his appointment  as chairman of the country's electoral agency.

Media reports credited to Yinka Odumakin,  media aide to  the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari had  alerted the nation that the PDP and the presidency were allegedly exerting pressure on the INEC chairman to throw in the towel.

But reacting in a press statement yesterday, Director of Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Abba Dabo denied the report as completely unfounded.

His statement reads: 'The allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP are mounting undue pressure on INEC credited to CPC presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari is completely baseless.

'It is a further confirmation of the campaign of calumny and falsehood for which the CPC has come to be associated.

'It is indeed baffling and even disturbing that a former Head of State like Buhari, could not see the high security threat posed by the sudden cancellation of the National Assembly elections and the need for the National Security Council (NSC) to meet and deliberate on crucial security matters arising from the cancellation.

'To cancel a general election midstream in such a vast and populous nation like Nigeria is fraught with high security implications. Nigerians have indeed shown the highest sense of restraint and must be commended for their patriotism.

'Jega has no control over security agencies. The President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Chief Security Officer of the nation, has a constitutional duty to ensure that a conducive environment is created for the election.

'His convening of the Security Council meeting is therefore   not only in order but appropriate. It is therefore unfortunate that the CPC saw this as a partisan act to be exploited for electoral gains.

'Since the postponement of the elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has done everything possible to strengthen INEC's hand and authority to ensure the rescheduled elections are conducted peacefully and transparently.'