Speaking at the weekend, a former director at the United Nations, Professor Akin Aderemi, was unequivocal in his praises for the new man.

"He is a good guy, with a good record. I have known him for 17 years and I am confident that he will deliver, Aderemi said.

Speaking at the weekend a South-East politician, Chief P.C. Onuoha, declared: "Iwu's appointment is one of the best appointments this government has made so far."

According to him, Iwu has been abroad for some time, which is to say he is not likely to be partisan.

"He is going to look at things from the right perspective, he will not be biased, which is the quality of an INEC chairman who can stand his ground."

In Onuoha's opinion, the new appointee has no political issues at stake and will not want to be involved in same. "He will discharge his duties creditably well as INEC chairman."

Another prominent politician from the South-South and the Aka Ikenga, Chief Chris Asoluka, was even more effusive in his commendations for the new INEC helmsman. Describing the professor as "a very intelligent man with integrity," Asoluka maintained that "he is also the best man for the job now."

For him, political reforms are more crucial to the country than economic reforms, which is why a man of integrity like Iwu is needed to fill the position of electoral adjudicator in a country where electoral fraud is rampant. However, Asoluka prayed that "he will have the courage and the political support to help him in his new job."

Political parties are not left out of the encomiums for the new INEC boss. Speaking in Enugu recently, Chief Ralph Obioha, national chairman of Justice Party (JP) commended Iwu on his appointment.

"Justice Party is very happy about this development," he said, adding that though he is an acting chairman, Iwu should ensure that he discharges his new responsibilities with the greatest sense of national pride.

"We are aware that he is on an acting capacity, but even if his acting is only for a very short period, the professor now has an opportunity to demonstrate to Nigerians that he is equal to the responsibility," he said.

From the days of Justice Ovie Whiskey through Professors Emeh Awa and Humphrey Nwosu to the outgoing INEC Chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia, chief electoral officers in Nigeria have been tainted in one way or the other.

The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) made a big splash back in the eighties with complaints about how Whiskey, then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) boss, allegedly aided the National Party of Nigeria, (NPN) in doctoring election results that gave Alhaji Shehu Shagari his first victory. The trend has continued even to this day, where opposition parties have blamed the ruling party for rigging election results in many parts of the country in connivance with INEC. Much as he denies electoral fraud by INEC in the last election, Nigerians have remained unconvinced.

Sceptical Nigerians see the appointment of a new chairman for the body as a continuation of the old order.