FROM AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, ABUJA
The federal gov­ernment, has said it has no plan to sack the chairman of the In­dependent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC), Professor Athahiru Jega.
The Supervising Minis­ter of Information, Chief Edem Duke, debunked the allegation yesterday during his maiden meet­ing with Information Correspondents in Abuja, that President Jonathan has a hidden agenda to sack Jega.
Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus led by the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, had on Thursday alleged of a plan by the presiden­cy to send Jega terminal leave ahead of the forth­coming general elections.
The Minister of Cul­ture and Tourism, reaf­firmed the confidence reposed on Jega by the President, saying that the presidency has no plan whatsoever to send Jega away illegally.
He however said noth­ing would stop the INEC boss to proceed on retire­ment when the need aris­es, in line with the Civil Service rule as enshrined in the nation’s constitu­tion.
‘‘I align myself with Mr. President that he has no plan to sack the INEC chairman. That is not to say that if it is time for INEC chairman to natu­rally exit his office, then the natural course of pub­lic service rule will not take place when he has reached age of retirement or exhausted his tenure,” Duke said.
Duke also urged media practitioners to beware of rumour mongers and en­sure that that they sepa­rate truth from propogan­da that were being spread around the country.