The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the
rescheduling of the general elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and
April 11.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, stated this at a
press briefing in Abuja Saturday night.
He said the decision was taken after several consultations with
political parties, civil society organisations, members of the Council of
State, INEC national commissioners and resident electoral commissioners.
With the shift, the Presidential and National Assembly elections
originally scheduled for February 14 will now hold on March 28 while the
governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections earlier fixed for 28
February will take place on April 11.
Jega said the decision to shift the elections was a difficult one, but
added that it had to be taken because of the security implications of holding
the election without the support of security agencies.
He said while the commission was ready to conduct the elections, the
input of the security agencies was important.
He said, “Whatever the commission does may not be sufficient to
guarantee the success of elections. There are others like security which is not
under the control of INEC.
“On Thursday, February 5, I was invited to brief the Council of State on
the level of preparedness to conduct the elections. I have detailed account of
what the commission had been doing for the readiness of the elections.
“The summary of my presentation was that for matters under the control
of INEC, the commission was ready for the elections despite the challenges of
PVCs and we have been doing all we could do for that.”
He said that in the delivery of materials, INEC was ready for the
election. He, however, stated that the commission was handicapped in some
areas.
He said, “But there are other variables that are not under the control
of INEC, which is security. While the commission has a good relationship with
security agencies, it has become necessary for us to listen to the advice of
the security agencies. We are an electoral body not a security agency. We rely
on them to provide security for us.”
Because of the security agencies’ advice, he said it would not be wise
for the commission to go ahead with the elections.
Jega said, “Last Wednesday, the office of the National Security Adviser
wrote a letter to the commission on the issues of security in the North-East.
The letter stated that security could not be guaranteed and this was re-echoed
at the council meeting.”
In arriving at the new dates, he said the commission relied on the
Electoral Act, which says that “where a date has been appointed for the
election and there is reason to believe that there is serious breach of peace
to occur, the commission may postpone the election and it shall appoint another
date for the election provided that the reasons are cogent and verifiable.”
Jega said there would be no cost implications for the postponement,
adding that majority of the materials to be used for the elections were already
in the country.
Asked if a court of law could stop the commission from holding the
elections, he said, “My understanding is that no court can stop the election.
The power to schedule and election is in the hands of the INEC.”
On the call for his resignation by some supporters of President Goodluck
Jinathan, led by Chief Edwin Clark, he said he would not resign.
He said, “I will not resign because my conscience does not say so. I
have never met with anyone on how one candidate could win and the other could
lose. If there are legitimate reasons for me to resign, I would leave. “
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