30th June, 2010
President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Nigerians to be vigilant and defend their votes and insist that every vote counts.
President Jonathan gave the charge on Wednesday 30 June, while inaugurating the newly reconstituted Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
Swearing in Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman and other new commissioners in the presence of Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Ministers and top government officials, President Jonathan observed that the success or failure of the reconstituted INEC rested with all Nigerians, noting that rules and regulations must be obeyed while electoral misconduct cannot be tolerated irrespective of status or party affiliation.
“Most Nigerians believe that our difficult electoral history is the reason for our underdevelopment and lack of confidence in those who govern. We must therefore begin to repudiate this arbitrariness, and there is no better time to start than nowâ€, he said.
—Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja