The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.), has canvassed the postponement of next month’s elections to give the Independent National Electoral Commission time to distribute over 30 million outstanding Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters.
Dasuki, according to Reuters, said he had told the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that a postponement within the three months allowed by the law, would be a good idea.
But his advice was rejected by the electoral umpire and the opposition All Progressives Congress.
Before he spoke at the Chatham House, a London think-tank, groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, the Federation of Middle Belt People and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo had also advised that the elections should be shifted.
Dasuki told participants at a talk in London, that INEC which had distributed over 30 million cards late last year, had assured him that the outstanding PVCs would be given out before February 14, the first day of the elections.
He however stated that he believed it would make more sense to shift the elections since the law provided a 90-day window during which elections could legally take place.
“It costs you nothing, it’s still within the law,” Dasuki said, adding however that it was for INEC and not for him, to decide.
But the electoral commission said even though it had yet to receive any formal request for the postponement of the elections. it would stick to its timetable for the polls.
“It is not a conversation of the commission’s at all. As far as we are talking now, the date is what it is,” Jega’s spokesman, Kayode Idowu, said.
He added that “as far as the commission is concerned, it is on course regarding the February schedules for the general elections. Postponement is not being contemplated.”
Also, the APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the call by Dasuki had exposed what it called the hitherto clandestine plot by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to push for the postponement of the polls, using all sorts of cheap tricks.
The statement read in part, “Now that we have found the smoking gun, we are urging the international community, in particular, to urgently extract a commitment from President Jonathan that the elections will hold as scheduled next month and that he would respect the outcome.
“Dasuki was only seeking to buy time for the slugging Jonathan electioneering to gather steam by hinging his postponement call on the delay in PVCs distribution.
“They know for sure that if they don’t postpone the elections, there is no way they can win. They are just terrified.”
The party called on Nigerians to reject in its entirety, the call by Dasuki, saying it could lead to constitutional crisis and undermine the nation’s democracy.
Mohammed had earlier in his response to calls by some groups for the postponement of the polls, said, “The 2015 elections must begin with the presidential poll on February 14, 2015 as scheduled.
“When the Department of State Service or the SSS lied that we are trying to hack into the database of INEC, we raised the alarm that it was part of a ploy not to hold the 2015 elections. People did not believe us.
“Now it is coming out clear, the ruling party(Peoples Democratic Party) does not want this election to hold; they are desperate. This call for postponement by groups and individuals is simply the infamous Association for Better Nigeria trying to resurrect.
“We join all well-meaning Nigerians to resist and reject it in any form or shape.
“Why are they not ready? Why should we postpone? We say ‘no’ to postponement. They know that if they don’t postpone, they can’t win.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
He is dying to save his job. All of u are going on exile.
ReplyDeleteThe most mediocre administration Nigeria ever had.....
ReplyDeleteCan't you APC supporters see reason for once? Please be neutral and post positive comments.........
ReplyDeleteCol Sambo Dasuki, please advise your principal, President GEJ to declare 3 days national holiday to enable people collect their PVCs. Postponement should not be an option at all. We reject it completely. I've already taken time off from my office from 12th to 13th February to enable me travel to where I registered in order to participate in voting out this clueless and incompetent GEJ-led administration. So don't alter my program!
ReplyDeleteYou APC supporters you are mayo pic how on earth do you think that APC will win PDP even if PDP decides to Sleep now, it is not possible can nt you read the political equation all around Nigeria what happened in Kano shameful in position of Bonkey crowd at ogbomosho by APC , jigawa no crowned they come at mid night , eboyi state the come at night even if election is done today GEJ will win. Unless you are telling us that the 30 m PVCs are crowned and are in the hands of APC
ReplyDeleteLet's do the elections then go on a honeymoon
ReplyDeletePlay the game don't shift the goal post
ReplyDelete