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  • The road to polls’ postponement

    The road to polls’ postponement

    After 12 hours of consultations on Saturday, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega shocked the world as he announced the shift of the much-anticipated general elections billed for February 14 and 28. But, to unsuspecting Nigerians, it was a postponement foretold. In this piece, Deputy Editor (News) ADENIYI ADESINA reviews the intrigues behind the action.

    known to many, President Goodluck Jonathan knew that his second term aspiration will be a Herculean task. So, he began the race early, much earlier than his opponents. The rallies held nationwide by the body known as Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) were nothing but campaigns.  Beyond the rallies, the President had in his bag of tricks many other strategies.

    Firstly, he empowered ex-militants from Niger Delta, his Southsouth geo-political zone,  financially to serve as foot-soldiers to beat war drums or issue threats to any political traducer serving as a stumbling block to his re-election bid. The first phase of the plot worked because virtually all presidential aspirants in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were technically shut out of the race under the guise of continuity.

    With an automatic ticket secured, Jonathan’s greatest headache was how to beat the mega opposition – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – at the polls. His strategists knew it would not be an easy task but they were determined to try their luck even if it meant not playing by the rules. The President pulled the second string by changing his Service Chiefs for what a source described as a “crack political strategy.” The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh was almost on his way out of the Air Force to vie for the governorship of Adamawa State when he was “miraculously” elevated from the Chief of Air Staff to the CDS. Air Marshall Badeh had a frosty relationship with former governor Murtala Nyako, even when Nyako, a retired Air Vice Marshall was in the PDP. Sources believe that the CDS played a prominent role in the impeachment of Nyako.

    Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah is said to be an anointed choice of the the President’s wife, Dame Patience. Both of them are from Rivers State. A generation of officers was almost retired from the service to pave the way for Minimah’s emergence as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, was the President’s pilot for some years before his appointment. He had been part of the ‘First family’. Though promoted on merit, the appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin was said to be a major political concession to Kogi State. This is often a campaign issue in the state.

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, is on a familiar terrain of political abracadabra having purportedly served as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to ex-First Lady Mrs. Maryam Abacha. It was learnt that the Abachas and a former Chief Security Officer (CSO) were instrumental to Abba’s appointment. The IGP is obviously used to the tactics of crushing the opposition. This was why the police wasted no time in stripping Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of his security apparatchik.

    A source said: “Whatever the role the Service Chiefs are playing today is a demonstration of loyalty to their benefactor. In April, last year, a terrible gaffe that embarrassed the nation was made by the military chiefs when the Defence Headquarters said they had rescued 100 of the abducted Chibok girls. Elsewhere, they would be heavily sanctioned for the misinformation, but as it were, nothing happened to them. The President, who is the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), did not see it as an international embarrassment. The prosecution of the war against the insurgents has been criticised by the international community as lacklustre, with many countries wondering what has become of our military that was well respected in times past. Again, the C-in-C is satisfied with the reports filed by his Service Chiefs.

    It is obvious that the military is politicised and the Service Chiefs have made up their minds to do only the bidding of the President. Jonathan had perfected his plans from the beginning and he succeeded in working to the answer, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav, said.

    “The shift in polls’ dates is sad and most unfortunate indeed. The Service Chiefs attended the Council of State meeting. Why did they not raise this issue there? I smell a rat. We no longer have a military, but traders, business and market men,” he added.

    The interest of Service/Security Chiefs in the polls

    Some of the Service Chiefs are neck-deep in politics of survival . A victory for Jonathan will guarantee them more years in service. In fact, the wife of a security chief recently went to a state for empowerment programme to boost the re-election campaign of the President.  If Jonathan loses, Buhari, a no-nonsense Army General, will become the nation’s President and he will certainly shake-up the military in such a manner that professionalism will be restored.  There might also be auditing of the hardware and evaluation of the campaign against insurgency. Some of the Service Chiefs were also said to be angry following incessant criticisms of the military approach to Boko Haram insurgency. At a stage, the DHQ issued a statement criticising Buhari’s alleged remarks against the military. They do not want a C-in-C with a mindset to flush them out.

    A source said: “The Service Chiefs are afraid of their shadows. The manner in which the Army handled the Buhari Certificate issue showed some bias and politicisation which is an abuse of military ethics. So, they have a lot to hide. Even if they escape Buhari’s axe, they are already on the wrong side of history. No team of Service Chiefs had recorded highest number of mutinies as the present crop.”

     

    How Jega succumbed to 

    pressure

     

    Although Jega battled spiritedly on Saturday to deny being under pressure to reschedule the elections to March 28 and April 11, his visible loss of weight and fatigue at the press conference in INEC Media Office pointed to some trauma for him. For many months, the forces behind polls’ postponement had tried in vain to force Jega to fall in line. To the forces, except Jega is the same page with them, the prospect of the President winning the election is remote. The electoral body must therefore be infiltrated. Besides infiltrating the rank and file of INEC, many groups, especially Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, were sponsored to put Jega on the edge on every key decision vital to the conduct of the polls. At a point, offer was made to some INEC National Commissioners to undercut Jega with the hope that any of them can succeed the political scientist as chairman.  The first shock for Jega   was the aborted plan by INEC to create additional 30,000 polling units, a development which was beclouded by ethno-religious politics.  Still undone, the Presidency took advantage of Inter-Agency Committee on Election Security (comprising INEC and security agencies) to understudy the lapses in the commission’s preparations. The peaked about three weeks ago, when National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, invited Jega for an “appraisal session” on the botched February polls. At the session, the NSA cross checked intelligence report on the status of PVCs distribution nationwide and obtained a table on these from Jega. He was said to have also spoken on security challenges in the Northeast, especially Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Gombe states and wondered if the elections should not be postponed for this reason. Jega was said to have made it clear that he could not tell Nigerians that the polls are shifted because of the security situation in the Northeast. The meeting ended without any inkling that the NSA was going to Chatham House, London, United Kingdom (UK) the following day.

    The source added: “A bewildered Jega woke up to hear Dasuki dropping a hint on likely polls’ postponement because of logistics challenges over the distribution of PVCs and Card Readers. He could not believe it that Dasuki spoke less about security threats in the Northeast which will make the conduct of the poll impossible.

    “The clever shifting of blame on INEC angered Jega and he felt betrayed by the NSA. He also felt that Dasuki deliberately put INEC on the spot to incur the wrath of Nigerians and the international community.

    “So, if you saw Jega hammering on INEC’s readiness for the poll, it was a deliberate ploy to pay the NSA back in his own coin and prove to the world that only the security agencies were not willing to allow the poll to hold.”

    Undeterred, the Service Chiefs hatched another plot, this time around, to put Jega in a cul-de-sac. The Service Chiefs now wrote individually to the NSA that they cannot guarantee security for the general elections. The aggregate of their position was contained in a letter the NSA wrote to Jega on Wednesday, the eve of the Council of State meeting.

    The President, in his concluding remarks, was said to have told Jega not to disregard the advice of the security chiefs who are trained in intelligence. Jega possibly saw this as a subtle threat and had to succumb to the blackmail.

     

    What next after polls’ shift?  

     

     

    Virtually, every political analyst believes the attribution of polls’ shift to security challenges in the Northeast was a smokescreen. In fact, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), described the development as “delay tactics.” The Director of Media of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the shift was “in the interest of deepening democracy and in national interest.”

    The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said: “This is clearly a major setback for Nigerian democracy. We must not fall into this obvious trap.  Change we must. They can only delay it; no one can stop it.”

    To underscore the ill-motive behind the shift, some PDP governors had relocated to Abuja on Saturday to strategise on what to do if violence trailed the announcement by Jega.

    For postponing the polls, some hawks and military top brass had anticipated a nationwide violence which they can use to crackdown on the opposition figures. It was curious that before Jega announced the shift, troops were massively deployed in some key state capitals and towns in the North and Southwest without any prompting. Those behind the deployment acted on false intelligence interpretation. This was why Gen Buhari, on Sunday, warned Nigerians against playing into the hands of the presidency and the PDP.

    He said: “Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security challenges in the country and provide justification to those who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face of certain defeat at the polls.”

    Definitely, the presidency and the PDP would have to re-strategise on other options to frustrate the opposition. Checks have confirmed the likelihood of using the six-week extension window to lay legal landmines for Gen Buhari on the over-blown certificate drama and alleged perjury.  Already, there are four, mostly induced, cases against the APC flag bearer in court. There were fears that a pliant judge might be used to disqualify him. The plot is to subject the retired General to the rigours of legal hurdles up to the Supreme Court to dampen his spirit. The legal matters might not be disposed of till the last minutes. Some hawks in the PDP are after his outright disqualification so that Jonathan and 13 other candidates can slog it out at the polls.

    Another option is the alleged plot to create a constitutional crisis to pave the way for a political stalemate which will lead to another contraption like an Interim National Government (ING). Gen Buhari alluded to this in his reaction to the postponement on Sunday when he said: “We don’t know the type of government they want to bring, whether a military government or a civilian government. But an elected government must be in place 30 days before May 29.”

    A fourth plot borders on the sack of Jega, the National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners if they ‘fail’ again in the distribution of PVCs. On Saturday, the INEC chairman had assured anxious journalists that he would conduct the general election. He spoke innocently, oblivious of the plot to sack him. The only intelligence available to Jega is about how one of his discredited predecessors had been serving as a consultant to the PDP. Those being positioned for his job are: Prof. Femi Mimiko (a brother of the Governor of Ondo State who just completed his tenure at the Adekunle Ajasin University);  INEC National Commissioner (Operations), Prof. Nuru Yakubu, a former INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and a former National Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Victor Chukwuani.

    A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “These forces are determined to ease Jega out by citing shoddy preparation, poor distribution of PVCs, some technical incompetence and other sundry issues.

    “They have been shopping for candidates to replace Jega if they could wield influence to allow the polls to hold in June or if they could frustrate Jega to pave the way for a new hand to manage INEC during the general elections.”

    Notwithstanding the ongoing intrigues, the postponement will assist INEC to tidy up a few things before the poll.

    Jega said: As for us in INEC, we’ll endeavour to use the period of the extension to keep on perfecting our systems and processes for conducting the best elections in Nigeria’s history. In particular, we believe that we would resolve all outstanding issues related to non-collection of PVCs, which agitate the minds of many Nigerians.”

     

     

    Will Jega be third time lucky?

     

    The nation seems to have accepted the postponement since INEC acted within the laws. But will the chairman of the commission, Jega, be third time lucky? Twice in his career as INEC chairman, he had postponed general elections using his integrity as an excuse. If Jega falters again on March 28, he will be consigned to the dark side of history.

  • Folarin: Oyo PDP focused

    Folarin: Oyo PDP focused

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, has said the party remains focused, despite the postponement of the general elections.

    He said with the argument of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the security lapses in some parts of the country, it will be reasonable to consider the interest of others.

    Folarin, who spoke during a rally yesterday in Igboho and Kishi, urged Nigerians to trust the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega.

    The PDP candidate urged Nigerians to accept the postponement of the elections in good faith, adding that Nigeria can only be great if people support government polices.

    “We remain focused and determined, despite the postponement of the elections. I want to urge Nigerians to accept it in good faith and think of how to make Nigeria great..”

  • Nigeria’s risky decision to postpone elections

    Nigeria’s risky decision to postpone elections

    •Boko Haram’s latest victim may just have been Nigeria’s national election

    At least on first glance, it would appear that way. On Saturday evening,  Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced its decision to postpone Nigeria’s national election scheduled for February 14th. These elections were widely expected to be Nigeria’s closest electoral contest yet, between the increasingly unpopular Goodluck Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and retired General Muhammadu Buhari of the All People’s Congress (APC). These elections represent a serious challenge to Jonathan’s PDP, which has won every election since 1999.

    The reason for the delay? According to INEC, Nigeria’s security services say they need at least six weeks to launch a major offensive against the Boko Haram insurgency in the northern part of the country, that they could not guarantee security for the February elections. The new date for the presidential elections is set for March 28th. State elections will be held on April 11th.

    Seriously?

    Boko Haram has been rampaging since 2009, killing tens of thousands of civilians (5,000 in 2014 alone), razing towns, seizing Nigerian territory, threatening and attacking other countries, but now, with less week to go before the presidential elections, the Nigerian military promises to rout the scourge by late March? This is the same military that falsely claimed 200 schoolgirls were released after being kidnapped by Boko Haram. This is the same military that claimed a ceasefire with Boko Haram, only to have Boko Haram deny any such deal. This army reportedly sends soldiers to combat Boko Haram without adequate weapons, and has had soldiers flee in the face of Boko Haram’s assaults.  This military has been guilty of committing human rights abuses against Nigerian citizens in its fight against terrorism. These are the same security forces whose leader said they didn’t need the African Union or the United Nations to help counter the Islamist insurgency.

    But after years of Boko Haram’s carnage, what will the army do in six weeks that they couldn’t do in five years and with a $5 billion security budget? Where was this urgency hiding for the past six years? And why escalate tensions and anger Nigerians who have been eagerly waiting to cast ballots by making this announcement with only a week to go before the polls?

    Hours before the official announcement, Nigerians were protesting in the streets of Abuja. The United States has pleaded repeatedly with Nigeria to not delay the elections. Secretary of State John Kerry even paid Jonathan and Buhari a visit in Lagos last month to urge for peaceful and timely elections. As the Globe and Mail noted, President Jonathan declined to say during Kerry’s visit whether the elections would be held on February 14th, but said the May 29th date for the transfer of power is “sacrosanct”.

    In a press statement, Kerry noted that the U.S. is “deeply disappointed by the decision to postpone the elections” and that “political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.”

    For months, not surprisingly, members of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan’s party have publicly been calling for a delay in the polls, but for different reasons, at least publicly. The national security advisor to Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki, said last month that elections should be postponed because of what he has cited INEC’s failure to distribute election voting cards to 30 million people. (This is the first election where voting cards are necessary for Nigeria’s 68 million voters to cast ballots.) As The Globe and Mail reported, the idea of a six-week delay had been floated by government officials even last month. Members of Buhari’s opposition party have stated they would not accept any delays in polls. Indeed, it is not surprising that a decision to push back the elections in the name of security, especially under Jonathan who has been seen to be lackadaisical in his approach to Boko Haram, would be perceived as an attempt to sway political momentum in his party’s favor rather than combating the terrorism threat.

    But by citing the military’s demands as the primary reason for the delay, INEC has upped the stakes in what was already perhaps the most heated election in Nigeria’s recent history, and one where few Nigerians have faith in this year’s electoral process, according to a Gallup poll.  Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, has bet its own elections on the military, and one that that has given few signs to date that it can be trusted to adequately counter Boko Haram’s violence and protect Nigerian civilians. Unfortunately, perhaps this is a symptom of what happens when military is given more logistical influence over elections than INEC itself, and perhaps an intractable lingering political effect of Nigeria’s history under the rule of military regimes for decades before the return to democracy in 1999. It is hard not to feel that INEC has given the security forces more power over Nigeria’s political affairs than they deserve.

    What happens if the new election date approaches in March and Boko Haram is still a threat? Will there be another call for a postponement? Will the army become more transparent about its efforts? What if the Nigerian military claims it cannot ensure election safety in March? How will Nigeria, a country whose economy has been rocked by the drop in oil prices, fund these ramped up efforts and ensure credible and peaceful elections? Will the May 29th date for the transfer of presidential power still hold firm? Nigerian citizens, Africa, and the world are entitled to concrete answers to these questions.

    In the meantime, it is up to anxious Nigerians on both political sides to remain peaceful over the next six weeks. As I have written before, fair and credible Nigerian elections provide the best way for Nigerians to choose whether to hold their leaders accountable for the government’s failures on Boko Haram.  Though the Nigerian constitution allows for the elections to be postponed, this decision still amounts to a temporary disenfranchisement of tens of millions of Nigerian voters based on ‘hopes” and promises from the military.  It is hard not to see this latest decision, as anything but an needlessly risky gamble, with Nigeria’s democracy at stake.

    …Attiah is the Washington Post’s Opinions Deputy Digital Editor. She previously reported for Associated Press while based in Curaçao.

  • Ogboru doubts INEC’s readiness for elections

    Ogboru doubts INEC’s readiness for elections

    Delta State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru has expressed doubts about the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections.

    The LP candidate urged INEC to conduct a test run of the card readers to determine their reliability.

    He said this would forestall likely malfunctioning of the machines.

    Ogboru noted that INEC might have simulated the machines in its offices with the card readers, adding that this is not adequate.

    He said: “I am not saying INEC has not done the simulations with these machines in the office. But that is not enough. The type of simulation that is required in this circumstance, in our view, is that it must be done under election condition.”

  • INEC’s reasons for polls’ shift untenable, says Buhari

    INEC’s reasons for polls’ shift untenable, says Buhari

    APC presidential flag bearer speaks on issues of national interest in an interview aired yesterday on Al Jazeera International Television Network 

    Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described the reasons given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the February 14 and 28 elections as untenable

    He said INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega had ealier given details the body’s activities since the general elections of 2011 to the National Council of State and assured that his commission was ready for the elections as originally scheduled.

    The APC standard bearer in a chat monitored last night on Al Jazeera International Television Network

    Buhari said: “If they say the military cannot secure 14 local government areas out of 774 local governments in six years, how can we be sure they can secure those 14 council areas in six weeks?”

    Expressing Nigeria’s gratitude to its neighbours for eventually agreeing to secure its territory, Buhari wondered what went wrong with the nation’s military that earned global accolades in the past for excelling in peace-keeping missions.

    He said:  “But as far as informed Nigerians are concerned, there is corruption in government, where is the vote for the military? Where is the money for equipment and training going to?”

    The former Head of State, however, urged Nigerians to give INEC the benefit of the doubt to carry out its rescheduled programmes since the constitution allowed for such.

    His words: “We are all going to appeal to our supporters to give to INEC the chance, because there is 30 days limit for the swearing-in of new government and before that time, election must be conducted.

    “So, there will be no more room for maneuver as far as we are concerned. I hope the military, the ruling party and INEC will accept this is the limit provided by the constitution.

    “We do not expect INEC to say they cannot conduct the elections. In any case, INEC briefed the National Council of State that they were ready to conduct the elections.

    “Now if they are approached by the military for whatever reason to consider addition six weeks before the elections start, we are going to accommodate that and abide by this. We urged our support to remain calm, to participate in the elections on the March 28 and April 11.”

    He added that if the troops deployed in Ekiti for the June, 2014 governorship election had been utilised to flush out Boko Haram, tangible results would have been recorded.

    Buhari said: “If deployed in the Northeast, they (troops) could have at least rescued the over 200 school girls who were abducted by the rebels or the Boko Haram from their dormitory since last year.

    “They know where they are, they still can give a cohesive reason whether they have the capacity to put an end to it.”

    According to Buhari, the government has failed to protect lives and property, noting that the numbers of soldiers deployed to rig election in favour of the ruling party could have been judiciously used to end insecurity in the country.

    Recalling the standing of the Nigerian military in external operations, Buhari noted that outstanding performances of the military during the Boma war and the uprising in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), earned the country the respect of the international community.

    He said when he was a military head of state, all the law that his administration enacted were meant to make the society better.

    He added that there was no secret trails f any suspect that contravened the law. He said there has been effort to undermine what they tried do as a government.

    “I was a military leader and part of the constitution was suspended to ensure that accountability is return to the Nigeria system.

    “We accepted part of the responsibilities; the concept of executing people was about the drugs. We said cocaine and associated drugs were not developed in Nigeria.

    “Those who want to make money at the expense of health and lives of the people would not be condoned. We were concerned and if people were to make money, they should go out and work hard.”

    He explained that his age has nothing to do with his ability to carry out his duties, stressing that he could move up his chosen career, it was as a result of the dedication put to his job.

  • Private security to INEC: we’re ready for elections

    Private security to INEC: we’re ready for elections

    The Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) has expressed its willingness to be deployed as volunteers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the forthcoming general elections.

    The group at the weekend declared its readiness to deploy its personnel across the country, following the military’s stance that it cannot guarantee security if elections were not postponed.

    The association is to deploy its personnel to troubled northeastern states alongside other security agencies to ensure peaceful elections.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, the association’s executives, led by its President, Davidson Akhimien, said their decision was borne out of their love for the country.

    He said the association as a responsible and patriotic player in the country was duty bound to contribute it’s quota towards the success of the elections by making its men available for security duties across the country including the troubled states.

    It also urged INEC to consider allowing persons with Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) vote so as to reduce the number of disenfranchised voters.

    It urged politicians to refrain from mudslinging, describing it as a recipe for violence, just as it advice security agencies deployed for elections purpose to remain apolitical.

    On the alleged plans by terrorists to use female suicide bombers to cause havoc during election, the group urged voters to be vigilant and look out for both males and females suspected terrorists.

  • INEC facing new challenges, says Jega

    INEC facing new challenges, says Jega

    .calls for inputs from parties in resolving challenges

    The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing some new developments  in the conduct of the 2015 general elections, Prof. Attahiru Jega has said.

    Jega stated this Saturday while addressing political parties at a meeting called by the Commission to update the party leadership on the preparation for the 2015 general elections.

    The major issue for discussion is whether or not the general elections will hold as currently scheduled. The presidential and National elections have been slated for next Saturday, while that of state governors and states House Assembly on 28th February.

    Jega in his short opening remark said: “The main purpose of calling for this meeting is to update you on our preparation for the 2015 general elections and in particular draw your attention to some new developments as to how the commission should address this new development.”

    Jega however did not state if the latest developments were grievous enough to warrant shifting of the elections as called for by some parties.

    But he said INEC would want the input of the political parties in addressing the challenges.

    In his reaction, Mr. Yunusa Tanko, chairman Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) regretted that some of the issues cone up now has been raised by the council but where not taken seriously by the commission.

    He explained that the smaller parties have never been treated equally, stressing that it is only fair for all the parties to be allowed to make input on the issue.

    Tanko also warned that the country must come first in whatever contribution the individual parties would be making.

    Already, political parties are divided over the issue and this may influence the argument at the meeting which is already on.

  • 2015 elections: INEC, political parties meet Saturday

    2015 elections: INEC, political parties meet Saturday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties will meet on Saturday to decide whether next week general election will go ahead as scheduled.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, will meet party leaders before reaching a final decision.

    This was part of the fallout of Thursday’s National Council of States meeting where Jega briefed the meeting on the commission’s preparation for the elections.

    The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and service chiefs also briefed the Council on the current security situation.

    The meeting had advised INEC to consult widely before reaching a decision following the sustained calls for postponement of the elections by some groups, including the Chief Edwin Clark led Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly.

    At the end of Saturday’s stakeholders meeting, Jega, according to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, will thereafter address a press briefing.

    The statement reads: “On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, was invited to brief the National Council of States on the preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections. He made a presentation titled: “Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report.’

    “As a follow-up to that meeting, the Commission has scheduled a consultative meeting with chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties, as well as a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

    “Thereafter, the Commission will address a press conference to brief the nation on its decision with regard to whether or not the general election will hold as currently scheduled.”

  • INEC gets go-ahead to conduct polls

    INEC gets go-ahead to conduct polls

    The National Council of State yesterday gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the go ahead to conduct the February 14 and 28 elections as scheduled after listening to INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki.

    The meeting lasted seven hours, having started around noon, to end at about 7.pm

    As Jega told the meeting that he was fully ready to go ahead, Air Chief Marshal Badeh said he could not guarantee security in some areas in four states, which sources put as Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Borno.

    After the meeting, three governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) Rochas Okorcha (Imo) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa) briefed reporters on what transpired at the meeting.

    There was a mild drama as Mimiko, after speaking, got up, along with Ngilari and made to leave, signaling the end of the briefing,  but Okorocha  disagreed:  ”This briefing is one sided,” he said.

    The other governors then sat down and allowed him to speak. Okorocha said: “The National Council of State advised INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility, which is to conduct elections. That is what we rose to agree. It was a very challenging moment and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready, but noted concern of security agencies in some few local governments. Council asked INEC to go and perform their civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of elections.”

    On whether there was a decision to change the February 14 and February 28 dates of the election, he said: “There is no decision as to a change of date or postponement at all. The Council has asked INEC to go and perform their responsibility.”

    Asked if there was any decision on the use of temporary voters card, Okorocha said: “The temporary voter cards are being exchanged for the new ones and once you have given out your temporary voter card, that means you don’t have it any more. So they are going for the permanent voter cards, and the PVCs would be assumed to have been distributed beforeSunday, that was the essence of the whole exercise and Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011.”

    On whether the report of alleged resignation of Jega was tabled, Okorocha said: “No; there was nothing like that discussed.”

    Asked whether the PDP and the APC are not on the same page on the matter, he said: “As usual, we are not on the same page on any issue of this nature. It is normal that some will be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we looked at the Constitution of Nigeria, that is the only binding factor when there are issues of disagreement; the constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental law that guides the nation’s policies.”

    On whether APC expects to see elections holding on February 14 and 28, he said: “That is what we are expecting definitely.”

    Mimiko, speaking earlier, said: “Council of State held a meeting close to seven hours. Essentially, the state of preparedness of INEC was on the table. INEC had the benefit of input from council members and security chiefs and agencies. And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice, INEC is constitutionally-empowered with the basis of discussions to brief the nation and then the news will be communicated to you.”

    On whether there will be a shift in the date, he said: “Like I made it absolutely clear, I am not the INEC chief. INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting we just had.

    INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision that they will brief the nation soon.

    “The Council of State is essentially an advisory body. Mr. President, in his wisdom, has invited INEC to brief us on the state of preparedness based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies; INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC.”

    He added: “For any avoidance of doubt, like I said, INEC had the benefit of input and perspectives from council members. Issues of distribution of PVCs, card readers, the extent of piloting to ensure that people are familiar with this, security issues; all of these were discussed.”

    “Issues of the fact that seven days to election, 34 per cent of Nigerians is yet to get PVCs. It was a major issue that was discussed,  issue of preparedness of security to conduct elections nationwide, issue of extensive pilot card readers, which is a new technology. All of these were discussed, but ultimately, council being an advisory body, urged INEC to take advantage of the different perspective of Council members to take its decision about the election,” he said.

  • Council of State backs February elections

    The National Council of State, presided  over by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out its civil responsibility towards conducting the general elections billed for 14th and 28th of this month.

    The INEC Chairman, who briefed the Council at the closed door meeting, maintained that the Commission was ready to conduct the elections as scheduled.

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Alex Badeh, however told the Council about inability to gaurantee security in some troubled states.

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and Adamawa State Governor, James Ngilari briefed State House correspondents after seven hours meeting attended by past presidents and heads of state.

    Okorocha said: “NCS advised INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility which is to conduct elections. That is what we rose to agree. It was a very challenging moment, and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready, but because of concern of security agencies in some few local governments, Council asked INEC to go and perform their civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of elections.”

    On whether there was a decision to change dates of the polls Okorocha said: “There is no decision as to change of date or postponement at all. But the Council has asked INEC to go and perform their responsibility.”

    Asked if there was any decision on the use of temporary voters card, Okorocha said: “The temporary voters cards are being exchanged for the new ones and once you have given out your temporary voters card, that means you don’t have it any more. So they are going for the permanent voters card, and the PVC would be assumed to have been distributed before Sunday that was essence of the whole exercise, and Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task, in-fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011.”

    On whether the report of alleged resignation of Jega was tabled, he said: “No, there was nothing like that discussed.”

    Asked whether PDP and APC are not on the same page on the matter, he said: “As usual we are not on the same page on any issues of this nature. It is normal that some will be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we looked at the constitution of Nigeria, that is the only binding factor when there are issues of disagreement, the constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental law that guides the whole nation’s policies.”

    On whether APC expects to see elections holding on 14 February, he said: “That is what we are expecting definitely.”

    On his part, Mimiko said: “Council of State in a meeting close to seven hours essentially on the state of preparedness of INEC was on the table. INEC had the benefit of input from council members and security chiefs and agencies. And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advise, INEC is constitutionally empowered with the basis of discussions to brief the nation and then the news will be communication to you.”

    On whether there is a shift in the date, he said: “‎Like I made it absolutely clear, I am not INEC chief. INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting we just had.
    INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision that they will brief the nation soon.”

    “The council of state is essentially an advisory body, Mr. President in his wisdom has invited INEC to brief us on the state of preparedness based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC.”

    He went on: “For any avoidance of doubt like I said INEC had the benefit of inputs and perspectives from council members. Issues of distribution of PVC’S, card readers, the extent of piloting to ensure that people are familiar with this, security issues, all of these were discussed.”

    “Issues of the fact ‎that seven days to election 34 per cent of Nigerians yet to get PVCs. It was a major issue that was discussed. ‎Issues of preparedness‎ of security to conduct elections nationwide, issue of extensive pilot of the card readers which is a new technology. All of these were discussed but ultimately, council being an advisory body to take advantage of the different perspective of Council members to take decision about the election,” he said.

    A source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, listed the four states the CDS expressed reservation about on ensuring security during the forthcoming elections as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states.

    A mild drama ensured during the briefing as the Ondo State governor stood up to go after making his remarks signaling the end of the briefing.

    But Okorocha stood his ground and said; “This briefing is one sided.”

    The other two governors then sat down again and allowed him to make his remarks.