Nigerians have welcomed acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to remove the much criticised election chief Maurice Iwu.

Opposition Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora told the BBC that his removal was “the beginning of electoral reform”.

Mr Iwu presided over the last election in 2007, which was widely seen as chaotic and fraudulent.

The US recently doubted whether Mr Iwu could organise a credible election next year and called for him to be replaced.

Nigerian activists have long called for him to go.

The country’s newspapers are in celebratory mood.

Serious reform?

Mr Jonathan has committed himself to pursuing electoral reform.

“Elections in Nigeria from now onwards will be free and fair,” he said recently in a BBC interview.

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has promised electoral reform
Mr Iwu’s term as chairman of Inec was due to end in June 2010.

The BBC’s Chris Ewokor in Abuja says his premature departure could be a symbolic move by Mr Jonathan to make him appear serious about electoral reform.

Mr Jonathan recently visited the US and his decision to remove Mr Iwu will also be popular with the Obama administration.

However the real indication of whether or not Mr Jonathan is serious about electoral reform will come when Mr Iwu’s replacement is chosen, our correspondent said.

The selection of Mr Iwu’s replacement would not be made by the acting president alone, Mr Mamora said.

Ebola cure claim

The National Judicial Council would draw up a shortlist of three names, which would then be discussed by Mr Jonathan together with the National Council of State, he said.

Mr Jonathan has said a civil servant would run the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) until a permanent replacement was found.

Mr Iwu has had a colourful career.

He once announced at a medical conference in the US that he had discovered the cure for the Ebola virus – a claim which later proved to be untrue.

Mr Jonathan is standing in for President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is sick and has not been seen in public since November 2009.

Mr Yar’Adua was elected in 2007, although legal challenges to the result lasted for months afterwards.