Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Maurice Iwu has said that it would be unpatriotic for him to quit against the backdrop of persistent pressure from many Nigerians who believe that he was responsible for the highly flawed elections of 2007.

Iwu who stated this while answering questions during a visit to the headquarters of Media Trust in Abuja recently said if he had acceded to such calls, he would have created a 'dangerous situation' for his successors who would have to also quit on account of pressure no matter the intent of the persons behind such pressure.

"Why I am saying this is that if I had got angry and left, it would be very dangerous and very difficult for anybody who will come after me. I say this because if the only thing it takes to remove an INEC chairman is by mounting a sustained media campaign against the person, it is unfair," he said.

He said he has made a tremendous sacrifice to Nigeria, which he is proud of and if there are little hitches, some other person can make it better when he comes.

Iwu said there would have been a temptation for him to resign if those calling for that meant well and were credible in their actions, stressing that since he could he could go to a sound sleep over the elections, reigning would be a disservice to the nation.

"When you believe you have not done anything wrong and people spend a lot of time and millions of naira persecuting you; people who have never met you; people whom you have no grudge against, there is a tendency to say well, I quit.

But if you examine your conscience and you can go to bed, sleep and you are at peace with yourself, then it will be unpatriotic for you to quit," the electoral chief said.

Drawing analogy from the elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe, Iwu said the criticisms mounted on INEC and subsequent calls for his resignation were "a deliberate attempt to destroy national institutions and individuals" that cannot be compromised.

"One of the intriguing things in the Nigerian polls 2007 is that there is no where anybody has claimed that he had won the election other than the man we declared. You see, in Kenya people claimed that they won the election but they had been denied.

The opposition in Zimbabwe claimed that they won the election but they had been denied. But in our own case, it is a deliberate attempt to destroy national institutions and individuals you cannot compromise.

"If we ever get to that day in this country, it will be sad. So if I am not man enough to absolve abuse and insults from people whose motives I know, then I shouldn't be in the position in the first place. If I am condemned by somebody who is good and well meaning, it will pain me. But if somebody who is bad; who is patently evil says that he doesn't like me then I know that I am doing the right thing," the chairman said.

Iwu said he has 'a very strong conviction' that the survival of institutions is important so that Nigeria and fix all its problems.

"But if somebody wants the INEC chairman to leave because he wants his tribal person to assume the position, that is so sad and pathetic and no matter how it is coloured, I wouldn't even listen to it," he said.

Reacting to insinuations that he has commenced scheming for a second term in office, Iwu said he has tremendous assignments before him including the elections in Anambra and the FCT which do not require distraction. He however described himself as a "child like Christian" who is waiting for God to decide his faith.