ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's acting president on Wednesday ordered the OPEC member's elections chief to step down immediately over widespread concern that next year's vote would not be credible under his leadership.
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan ordered Maurice Iwu, chairman of the Independent National Election Commission, to hand over his responsibilities to his deputy until a replacement could be found.
"The acting president ... has directed ... Iwu to proceed on pre-disengagement leave with immediate effect," said Ima Niboro, spokesman for Jonathan.
Iwu, whose five-year term as chairman expires on June 13, has faced considerable criticism at home and abroad for his role in the flawed 2007 election that brought President Umaru Yar'Adua to power.
(Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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