There are growing speculations that Professor Attahiru Jega who heads the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not oversee the March 28 and April 11 polls and may be forced to proceed on terminal leave before his tenure is due to elapse.

Sunday Punch reports that the Federal Government may have shortlisted four national electoral commissioners–one of whom will take over from Prof. Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to the Daily, sources said the national commissioners that might take over from Jega could come from a list made up of Dr. Mohammed Wali from Sokoto State, Mrs. Amina Zakari from Jigawa State, Colonel Mohammed Kurmi Hammanga (rtd.) from Adamawa State and Dr. Ishmael Igbani from Rivers State.

During a televised media chat, President Jonathan waved aside growing concerns that Jega was going to be axed as INEC boss. But the President’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged in one press statement after another that Jega is taking sides with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP has also wondered why collection of PVCs weighs heavily on the side of the North where General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential flagbearer, enjoys considerable and manic following.

The Sunday Punch report also states that:

“None of the commissioners have been informed because the government has not decided whether to retain the post in the North-West or take it to another zone.

“The terminal leave letter that the All Progressives Congress senators were talking about has not been written, but I cannot deny the fact that government wants Jega to proceed on terminal leave.

“Anytime the letter is written and Jega gets it, it will contain the name of the person he will hand over to.”

It was learnt that the government officials, who advocated that one of the INEC commissioners should be appointed, argued that with less than three weeks to the elections, getting Jega’s replacement from outside of the commission could be complicated.

The grand plan, according to the story, is to have someone who is already familiar with the system, oversee the rescheduled general elections.

Quoting from the Sunday Punch: A top government official, who is privy to the discussions in government circles in relating to Jega’s fate, said, “Time is of the essence. The truth is, if you bring someone from outside, he or she will need time to understand the place and know what is happening. It will be difficult for such a person to fully understand what is on the ground.

“However, if we get someone who is already within the system, it will be easier for the person to identify areas where errors were made and correct them within the time left.

“There are also those who are making a case for a neutral person. This set of people argue that after all, Jega himself was brought in from outside and he did a good job of the 2011 elections.”