Jega, Six INEC Commissioners Leave Office, Hands Over To Wali As Nigerians Celebrate Him On Social Media

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, today bowed out of office after five years at the helm of the election agency.

Six other national commissioners also ended their tenure Tuesday.

At a brief ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Jega handed over to a national commissioner, Mohammed Wali from Sokoto state, who becomes acting chairman of the commission.

Mr. Jega was appointed in June 2010 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, suceeding Maurice Iwu.

He conducted two general elections – 2011 and 2015.

Mr. Jega, shortly after the last general election which held on March 28 and April 11, said he would not be seeking for a fresh term in office.

He also said he would decline the offer of renewal if granted.

Mr. Jega is the only chairman of the electoral body to conduct two general elections in Nigeria’s electoral history.

Before his appointment as National Commissioners of the (INEC),  new INEC acting chairman Wali was a Visiting Reader (Associate Professor) to the Department of Political Science, Usmanu  Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Chief Executive Officer, Development Strategies International (DSI).

Ambassador Wali is a member of various committees of INEC and the Chairman of the Tenders Board.

Wali, a Muslim, Fulani, hails from Sanyima town in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in the North-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Meanwhile Nigerians have taken to twitter to celebrate him. #CelebrateJega is the No.1 trending topic in Nigeria this morning. See some tweets below