Employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission asked Jega on Thursday for life insurance and police protection without having to pay bribes ahead of the oil-rich nation’s elections. Nigerians will vote April 9 in a crucial presidential election, with two other elections that month for state and federal positions.
Jega, a university professor with popular appeal, faces a tough challenge as Nigeria’s election chief. Polls in the country have been marred by rigging, intimidation and violence since the nation become a democracy more than a decade ago.
Meanwhile, an army spokesman said after investigations into explosions at an oil well head this week they have identified a prime suspect.
Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha told the Associated Press Thursday that a man known as Cmdr. Gen. Plasma is likely responsible for Tuesday's attack on an oil facility in Bayelsa state. Antigha said Plasma recently threatened to disrupt the oil company's operation.
The call casts doubt on a claim of responsibility by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the main militant group in the region.
Antigha said the attack "does not bear the signature" of the group, and that an e-mail attributed to the group was "just being opportunistic."
Militants in the restive region have attacked pipelines, kidnapped petroleum company employees and fought government troops since 2006.
