The Presidency on Friday listed some of the reasons it feels that going ahead with the February dates for the general elections as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission can “throw the country into turmoil and confusion.”
It however said President Goodluck Jonathan would not engage in any form of subterfuge to pressurise INEC to change the dates of the elections.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stated these in Abuja at a press conference called to clarify the outcome of the Council of State meeting held on Thursday.
Okupe said there was no time during the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when the chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, insisted on the February dates as quoted by some media reports.
He listed the level of preparedness of the electoral body and security situation in some parts of the country as some of the reasons why it will be wise to revisit the February dates.
On preparation, Okupe said in all INEC’s submissions at the meeting, the only process that was 100% concluded was the preparation and availability of the voters register.
He claimed that all other processes including provision, distribution and collection of PVCs, printing of ballot papers, distribution of verification machines and other non –sensitive materials, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff are all “work in progress.”
He added that Jega himself admitted that given a little more time, INEC would be in a better position to perfect the processes and its readiness for the elections.
He said, “Also in his presentations to the Council, the INEC Chairman, stated clearly that for the electoral process to be free, fair, and credible, there are other matters which were not under the control of INEC, principal among which is the issue of provision and guarantee of security of lives and properties.
“The Security Chiefs were unanimous in their advice to the Council that it will be impossible for now for them to guarantee security of electoral materials, INEC Staff, and the voting population in the areas currently engulfed by the war against insurgency.”
Okupe said while some opinions were proffered that elections could be allowed to hold on February 14 in 32 states not affected by insurgency, Jonathan made it clear that he would not allow an election where some people will be excluded for no fault of theirs.
He quoted the President as further saying that endorsing such would tend to confirm the falsehood already being propagated in some parts of the country that he was encouraging the war in the North East to ensure that voters in the APC states were not allowed to vote in the 2015 elections.
He added, “For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians are hereby re-assured that there has never been, and never shall be any plan to cancel the 2015 elections, for any reasons whatsoever. It will not happen, and the May 29th date for the swearing-in is sacrosanct. All talks about interim government arrangement is pure fiction.
“The consideration behind the possibility of change of date is to allow those who may be disfranchised from voting on the 14th February to have an opportunity to exercise their lawful rights to vote and participate in the general elections.
“The new wave of successes being recorded by the Military in the War against insurgency, especially with the arrival of new effective combatant equipment and machinery, plus the newly revamped cross border co-operation with Niger, Chad and Cameroonian Military, offer a very genuine hope that in a very short while, the situation in the affected states will be brought under such reasonable control that will guarantee safety of the electoral process and electorate in the war front region of the North–East at a no distant future.
“We repeat that the only set of people who stand to benefit from a shift in election dates are Nigerians who desire to vote and have not been able to collect their Permanent Voters Cards and other innocent citizens living in the war zone who may not be able to vote on the 14th February.
“We also wish to recollect that in 2003, 2007, and 2011 the elections were held in April, and the hand over date was not affected.
“We therefore challenge the opposition to tell Nigerians in clear terms, what dangers the change of date from February 14th portends to the electoral process or to the Nigerian electorate. It will also be good if the opposition tells us who stands to benefit or be disadvantaged from any shifting of date and how.”
Okupe, while saying that INEC was not fully ready for the elections, dared the commission to direct its Resident Electoral Commissioners to swear to an affidavit to prove their readiness for the polls.
“It will be very re-assuring if the INEC can get its RECs to attach their state of readiness to a sworn affidavit and show it to Nigerians.
“The interest of this government is to ensure that we do not have a rancorous and poorly conducted general elections that will throw the country into turmoil and confusion with the likelihood of an unnecessary internal and external rejection and condemnation,” he said.
Okupe claimed that in Sokoto State, nine local government areas are yet to receive PVC for the continuous voters registration, barely nine days to the election.
He also claimed that the majority of the 960,000 ad hoc staff needed by the commission are yet to be recruited and trained especially on the operations of card readers that are yet to be made available.
He added that Lagos State is yet to receive a balance of about 12,000 card readers for elections. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I agree with PDP, the election should be delayed for at least four years to give Jonathan and his party more time to prepare. When shall we stop looking stupid in the eyes of the world? Jega should not delay this election, not even by a day. If he does, too many people will lose both confidence and respect for him.
ReplyDeleteThis people won't just give up. Election must hold, if you don't want to be part of it please kill youself, Kilode gan. Enough of these stupid excuses. Not every one will vote even if you postpone forever. Is it because your multiple registration has been taken out. Enough already. Jega if you postpone, the whole world will loose respect for you. Hold on to your integrity .
ReplyDeleteWen apc lamented on it, some fools complained n said all sort of tins. Jst say one stupid tin jona can do n he will make ur prophesy cum to pass. Wernt they dia wen they agrred n funded inec for dis package. Jona is foolish. No apologies
ReplyDeleteWia is fani kayode
OH!! do u have confidence in Jega after the 2011 election? Jega was hired by GEJ so, if u think that Jega will not do any thing possible to make GEJ win the election then, you are badly mistaken.
ReplyDeleteThe election must go on even when it clear that INEC is not ready or some people "will make this nation ungovernable" or " the baboon and dog will be soaked in blood" Shi kena! Where is the love of country then? Selfishness galore?
ReplyDeleteOjo o wat ever u call ur sef,u n ur generation will soak in BLOOD!!!SHEGE
DeleteThis country is not one and never will be!!! I cant imagine why the voting should go on irrespective of whether people have cards to vote or not. Jega bounces between the wonder man and the traitor depending on who wins. Why are we postponing the evil day for our children? If you are walking in the right way, all you need to do is keep walking. If you are walking in the wrong way, you need to stop and turn to the correct way. Right now, we are walking in the wrong we. Nigeria is filled with people who must have things their way or blood will flow. Maybe its time to really let it flow and we go our separate ways than this situation! The ghost of Biafra will keep haunting Nigeria and Nigerians!!!
DeleteI will be disappointed by INEC if they bow to this pressure. Because PDP knew things are going wrongly for them that is why they championing for postponement against the wishes of Nigerians. It is clear now that APC is right all the while.
ReplyDeleteLet the elections hold if only seven people vote a winner will emerg
ReplyDeleteAPC has croned PVCs that is why they are clamoring for election on the 14th Feb not knowing that they can not use it Jaga Nigeria is bigger than the selfish ambition of Buhari and Tinubu so ple postpone the election for the interest of peace so the election can be free fair and credible we can not afford to go back to analogue.
ReplyDeleteSo Jona now cares bout Nigeria being in confusion and turmoil. All the Nigerians that have been dying from boko haram attacks before election, no action, no word, no propaganda sef, no care, no empath, no feelings. Now he suddenly cares bcos of election. Becos he needs more time to prepare rigging. Pls INEC, give Jona and foolish PDP 4 yrs, so they can fully prepare. Nigerians don't need it to be shifted but desperate PDP will stop at nothing. Agberos, your days are numbered! Idiot PDP.
ReplyDeleteYou see "Awon Olosi people". The presidency is talking as if they care about people. They are thinking that the insurgency can be wiped out within the next few weeks, so that they can tell Nigerians that "Boko Haram" is no more. I can tell them that the more they postphone the elections the worse it will be for them. You all see why Jonathan must not remain in government by all means. He and his government have destroyed Nigeria. Every system under his administration is corrupt. Look at Prof. Jega, his reputation is being questioned now. Look at the new revelation via the audio clip of the plan to rig Ekiti elections by the PDP. I declare, Fayose should vacate the office of governor with the immediate effect. No wonder, he restored the lost glory of Engr. Segun Oni who also rigged and was chased away by the judiciary. I have always been wondering why a sitting governor who did not perform badly at all could be defeated in that manner in Ekiti. I knew from inception that something was amiss. But I had no proof. Now they will come out to deny it. I live abroad and was born in Nigeria. On few occasions, I have tried to come to Nigeria and I got scared. I have had people who came to Nigeria, and armed robbers killed them. My brother was rushed back here for emergency when he travelled to Nigeria sometimes in 2011. I do not understand the system at all. Even reading all sad stories and schemings of this magnitude isn't good for the youths and the country alike. They said general Buhari did not acquire WASC certificate, isn't that crazy? They dent the image of Nigeria and Nigerians. I sincerely thank God I escaped them in Nigeria. "Otito lo ngbe orile ede ga". Now let me say this to every Nigerian, if you like vote general Buhari and if you like don't vote him. But let me tell you this, he does not need anything from the country. He is not a thief or corrupt man, so if sincerely Nigerians want peace and also deserve good lives and stability, then they will vote the right person. I pray Nigeria can be like these great countries where things work. The main issue in Nigeria is nothing but "CORRUPTION". It affects everything. May God help us. Recently John Kerry from the USA visited Nigeria and was threatening us on our soil. He said and I quote " let me be clear, people who cause violence will not be given visas to come to the USA". I wept, it shows that they have no respect for us. As if we Nigerians don't have a country that can even be greater than America itself. Jonathan with his government is a disappointment to Nigerians. I apologise that I ever supported Jonathan. Even president Yar Adua of blessed memory performed better within his short stay in presidency. The world is watching. Okupe was sent away from "Aso rock" by president Obasanjo, he's since back to the same Aso Rock working for Jonathan. Fayose was sent away during president Obasanjo's regime for corruption. He is back now as a governor through massive rigging under the administration of Jonathan. And many more corrupt people like that and the president says he is not corrupt. In fact, he confessed there is no corruption in Nigeria. Then how can we have someone like that in such a sensitive position. He is a clown and must leave now before he turns the entire country to a war zone. A word is enough for the wise.
ReplyDeleteUseless stuff.You have got no brain at all.akwuya!
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