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Tag: Inec

  • INEC rejects governorship nominations of seven parties

    INEC rejects governorship nominations of seven parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the governorship nominations of seven political parties.

    The rejection which affected several states of the federation, according to INEC, was as a result of the parties’ inability to nominate running mates.

    The parties and the states affected are – Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Delta state, Labour Party in Niger State, New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun State, Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo State,

    United Democratic Party in Rivers State, and Peoples Democratic Movement in Sokoto and Zamfara States respectively.

    In a decision extract issued and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, the commission also approved that the House of Representatives election in Ado/Opoku/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, being uncontested, the nominated candidate should be declared elected on the day of the election by the Returning Officer.

    Section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that a candidate to the office of a governor shall not be deemed to be validly nominated for such office unless he appoints another candidate as his running mate who shall occupy the office of Deputy Governor.

     

  • Is INEC ready for this year’s polls?

    Following widespread cries over poor distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and recent calls for postponement of February elections, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan; Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo, Okodili Ndidi, Owerri and Rosemary Nwisi in Port Harcourt report on the state of preparedness of INEC

    BARELY three weeks to the February elections there is growing concern over the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible general election.

    Nigerians became worried when it became apparent that few weeks to the election, majority of registered voters across the country were unable to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC); a document INEC insists must be used in the coming elections. Their apprehension deepened when some Nigerians, including the former Vice Presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, and the Governor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngilari, first called for postponement of the February polls. As would be expected, such suggestions were widely condemned. But beyond criticism, informed observers and stakeholders became even more concerned that the President Goodluck Jonatha’s government and INEC may be contemplating postponement of the polls.

    The fear peaked this week, when the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), citing poor distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and other issues, called for the postponement of the polls in a speech he made in London.

    Both the main opposition political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and prominent Nigerians did not waste time in rejecting this call, a development that led Dasuki to deny seeking postponement of the polls. To further soothe the frayed nerves of Nigerians over the matter, INEC, during the week, came out to say it would not shift the February polls. The commission’s chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, also reassured Nigerians that there would be no malpractices during the polls.

    Following this development, concerned observers are beaming searchlight on INEC, with the view to ascertaining its state of preparedness.

    Many problems of PVC distribution

    There is confusion about the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) ahead of the next general elections scheduled to start next month. In many states of the federation, reports have it that hundreds of thousands of potential voters are yet to be issued with the cards without which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says no one will be eligible to vote.

    Barely three weeks to the commencement of the elections, the situation is still very bad and it appears the electoral commission has reached its wits end in handling the matter. In spite of its ongoing distribution exercise across the country, Nigerians say it remains difficult to get the PVC due to problems ranging from absence of INEC officials at the polling units, outright in-availability of the cards, mix-up in the names and numbers on the cards, omission of names and many other reasons.

    Worried by what he feared may be applied by the commission to shortchange Nigerians ahead of the polls, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu queried the readiness of INEC to conduct a free and fair election going by the shoddy manner it conducted the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to eligible voters.

    “INEC had four good years to prepare for the coming 2015 elections and there are laws, particularly constitutional and electoral act requiring certain actions to be taken. They gave us Temporary Voter Cards (TVC) to vote in 2011 and now decided that there will be Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) consistent with biometric verification devices to improve on 2011 and make 2015 verifiable and show an improvement over the past record consistent to the standards across the world.

    “In some instances, we don’t find INEC officials in some of the accredited booths, we don’t find them arriving on time, the cards were not sorted, were inadequate, where are they? To me, this exercise has failed. It is not acceptable. We will consider it as a rigging exercise. INEC has colluded with the Presidency to rig this election from the data”, he said.

    A shoddy job

    Many Nigerians have expressed disgust over the shoddy manner the distribution is being carried out, saying they have done everything possible, but have not been able to get their cards. Recently, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed fears he may not vote in next month’s general elections as he was yet to collect his PVC. The monarch wondered what would happen to millions of helpless Nigerians who may not be able to get the cards before the February date of election.

    Disturbed by the turn of events, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State recently called on the commission to do everything possible to ensure that millions of Lagosians are not disenfranchised. The governor, while underscoring the problems faced by residents of the state in getting the PVC, announced that he is yet to get his own after several trials.

    The governor also said many eligible voters in the country were yet to get their PVCs while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure prompt distribution.

    “I have tried many times but I have not been able to get my PVC. Even the Sultan of Sokoto is yet to collect his PVC. I have been fighting them because of the shoddy way the voters’ registration went on in Lagos. I know that many people have not been able to get theirs, but I urge people not to relent,” he said.

    “Everyone should go to the wards where they registered to get their PVCs. Even if you don’t get it on the first day, do not relent till you get it,” Fashola added.

    Also, an international joint election observer mission in Nigeria under the auspices of the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently complete the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in their possession to ensure that majority of properly registered voters are not disenfranchised in the February elections.

    They are also asking the INEC to accelerate decisive efforts to increase voting by Internally Displaced Persons across northern Nigeria. The observer mission said the February 2015 presidential race was likely to be Nigeria’s most competitive since transition from military rule and that major lapses were needed to be addressed to ensure credibility of the process.

    The observer mission also urged community leaders, religious, civil and trade groups to launch a collective national movement to sensitize Nigerians across communities to go all out, in spite of the difficulties, to get their PVC following INEC’s insistence that voters without the card would not be allowed to vote.

    Relocated/displaced voters

    Aside from those struggling to get the voters’ card, Nigerians who have relocated from the location they got registered to new ones may not be able to vote in their new residence, even if they have the PVC. This is because it has become very difficult to get INEC to address the issue of transferring names from one place to another to accommodate relocated and displaced Nigerians in the February election.

    Reports say an estimated 1.5 million Nigerians displaced by the insurgency in the North-East may not be able to vote in the forthcoming elections. It is not clear indeed whether elections will take place at all the states under emergency rule; in spite of assurances by the INEC that it is committed to organising elections in all parts of the country.

    This is not inclusive of about one million others who had reasons to leave one location in the country for another within the last four years and were unable to get registered by INEC in their new location. The President of the Nigeria Voters’ Assembly, Mr. Mashood Erubami, said INEC is not ready to entertain the idea of transferring from one place of registration to another and as such has been ignoring persons requesting for such transfer. He said this is because the measures put in place for such transfer is not as easy and simplistic as INEC officials are making people to believe.

    Trouble spots

    A coalition of accredited observer groups for the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Rivers State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the exercise in the state.

    The group said the visible irregularities and the manner the exercise was abruptly staggered in the state are enough reasons for extension of the exercise. It revealed that there were various cases of missing names, cards and other human errors across the state and urged INEC to do a more thorough job to correct these errors.

    “Rivers State is already politically tensed, therefore, any attempt by INEC, persons or group to compromise the exercise aimed at disenfranchising a section of the state from voting during the coming elections will rather worsen the already tensed political and security situation in the state and is capable of plunging the state into very serious security, political and ethnic crisis.

  • PDP, INEC plot to rig in Anambra, Ngige, APC allege

    THE Anambra State chapter of the All progressive Congress (APC) and the senator representing Anambra central senatorial zone in the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, have raised the alarm that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is working in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the presidential election in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan. However, both Ngige and the APC have vowed to resist any attempt to subvert the wishes of the people in the state. Nigige spoke at the weekend in Awka, the state capital, while inaugurating the 12-man presidential campaign council (PCC) for General Mohammadu Buhari in the state, led by Hon. Chima Okafor. According to Ngige,” we are not oblivious of the fact that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PDP government are working together in this state to suppress APC. Our party is not afraid in any way because our product is a marketable one in Buhari. ‘’ Buhari has come to liberate this country by tackling insurgency and corruption. That is the reason why they are afraid. But they will to kill all of us to win the election. ‘’Any attempt to stop us will be stoutly resisted on that day. This is what they did in 2011 in this state. But this time around, that door will be closed. We have it on good authority that part of their plan to defeat the APC in the state is by not having election here.’’ Speaking further, Ngige said that the APC is targeting to get about 60 percent of the total votes in the state, adding, “we will deliver Anambra to APC.’’ Meanwhile, the state presidential campaign council (PCC) coordinator has said that no form of intimidation by any person or group would stop the party from coasting to victory. Describing the APC as a moving train, he said the people should know that God is involved in the mission to rescue the people from what was going on in the country. “When God is working, you do not ask questions. The APC must stop this impunity in the land. Our candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari is tested and trusted in Nigeria. “I feel that with the help of everybody, we must deliver. And that is why the team is working day and night to match the forces of darkness, not only in this state, but in the entire country,“ Okafor said.

  • APC petitions IGP, INEC, DSS on advert against Buhari

    APC petitions IGP, INEC, DSS on advert against Buhari

    THE All progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on the  Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) advert sponsored by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose wishing its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, death.

    The petition by the director general of the campaign organisation and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, condemned the PDP and Fayose for portraying Gen. Buhari as a dead man walking, to scare Nigerians from voting for him in the February 14 election.

    He said the portrayal of Buhari as a man likely to die in office just like past northern leaders like Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, General Sani Abacha and General Murtala Muhammed was “morbid and reckless” and that such irresponsible political advert is not only “in bad taste, but also capable of undermining law and order in the country.”

    The strongly-worded petition was copied to the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), and the editor-in-chief of the two newspapers that published the advert as well as the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

    The two paged letter reads: “I wish to, on behalf of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, draw your attention to the above named newspaper advertisement that appeared on  January 19, 2015 on the front pages of two national newspapers, namely, The Sun and The Punch.

    “The advertisement signed by Governor of Ekiti State Mr. Ayo Fayose, ostensibly to further the electoral fortune and political advantage of his party man, President Goodluck Jonathan, is in bad taste and capable, if not checked, to undermine law and order in our country before the general elections, which starts on February 14, 2015.

    “In the advertisement captioned “Nigerians be warned”, the sponsor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, went morbid and reckless in his effort to attract support for his favoured candidate in the forthcoming elections.

    “The Ekiti governor depicted the presidential candidate of APC as a man who may likely die in office the way the former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha and former President, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died in office for the simple unscientific reason that the APC presidential candidate was 72 years old.

    “You will agree with me that advertorials of this kind that insinuate the death of a man who is still alive is unbecoming, irresponsible and downright insensitive. It is capable of causing the breach of the peace across the nation and exacerbates the current unsavoury state of national insecurity and thus, put a huge strain on your office.

    “It is also important to point out that the advertisement is a breach of the accord on non-violence signed by the presidential candidates of all political parties taking part in the February 14 election, including the two leading political parties – the PDP and the APC.

    “We further wish to state that the advertorial is not only sinister and inhuman in its intention, it is also un-African and offends the sensibility of all decent men and women in any society.

    “We hereby respectfully demand that you use your exalted and responsible office to investigate the origin of the said advertorial and the motives of the latter with a view to calling the sponsors to order and prevent a repeat in the interest of peace in our country.

    “Please, accept the assurance of my highest regard.”

  • INEC to use 750, 000 ad-hoc staff

    INEC to use 750, 000 ad-hoc staff

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would require no fewer than 750, 000 ad hoc staff to conduct the general elections.

    Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday  in Abuja.

    Idowu said the commission was rounding off the recruitment of the ad hoc staff nationwide.

    “Getting that number is not an easy task, but the recruitment is nearly concluded, except in isolated places where we still need to make up with the number.’’

    He said applications for the recruitment were conducted via online, adding that  the commission also recruited former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who had ‘’excellent and credible records’’ in previous elections.

    He explained that the resort to former NYSC members was because the corps could not provide all the needed personnel from current members in the scheme.

    Idowu added that INEC was also considering recruiting third-year students of tertiary institutions to meet the needed number.

    He disclosed that the training of ‘’master trainers’’ among the ad hoc staff, who would train the others, had commenced.

    He explained that the commission preferred NYSC members as ad hoc staff for the conduct of elections to avoid the experiences of the past where election workers compromised.

    “When civil servants were being used, the general tendency was that if you employ the service of civil servants of state government, they had their jobs to protect.

    “If they are threatened, they could compromise easily, but in the case of youth corps members, they are on national duty.

    “They are neither familiar with the terrain nor stakeholders in the environment they operate.

    “They also have their certificates to collect and that is why their engagement is through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NYSC.

    “If the corps members or students in the exercise compromise, sanction awaits them because they are still within a system and under a country,’’ he said.

    Idowu, however, stated that no NYSC member on election duty had been sanctioned, revealing that they had so far maintained credible records.

  • PDP lawyers to party: you can’t stop Buhari in court

    PDP lawyers to party: you can’t stop Buhari in court

    He got WASC in 1961, says army

    Don’t destroy military, APC warns PDP

    LEGAL experts have advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to launch  a legal battle over Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s certificates.

    Gen. Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 14 election.

    The PDP’s plan, The Nation learnt, is to go to court in a bid to stop Gen. Buhari on the ground that his certificates are not with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The army said yesterday that Gen. Buhari obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961. But, said the army, the original copies of his certificates could not be found in his file.

    It was also learnt that apart from the court, INEC can also determine Gen. Buhari’s fate.

    If in the opinion of INEC Gen. Buhari can contest, no one can stop the APC candidate, lawyers said.

    The PDP leadership and some Presidency officials sought legal advice on how to get Gen. Buhari disqualified, a source told The Nation, pleading not to be named because of what he described as the “sensitivity” of the matter.

    But they were shocked to learn that it was all a wild goose chase.

    The legal advice made available to the party indicated that Gen. Buhari cannot be stopped because Section 318 of the 1999 says any candidate can contest for elective office with a minimum of school certificate or its equivalent.

    The section also does not say a candidate must pass or fail the school certificate examination or its equivalent, which could be a primary school certificate or the ability to read or write in English.

    Also, if a candidate has served in the public sector for up to 10 years, this could be the equivalent of a school certificate.

    A highly-placed source said: “The legal advice sought by PDP has confirmed that even if the party goes to court, it cannot stop Buhari. The party is in a state of confusion because it has to face the electoral battle with APC.

    The 1999 Constitution is explicit in its interpretation of Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution by Section 318.

    Section 131 states: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty (40) years; (c )he is a member of a political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its  equivalent.

    “In  Section 318, School certificate or equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or

    “(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for a minimum of  10 years; and

    “(ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and

    “(iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and

    “(d) Any other qualification acceptable by INEC.”

    Another source said the PDP has realized its folly because it did not seek legal opinion before raising false alarms that Gen. Buhari is unqualified to contest.

    The source added: “The PDP leaders have realised that all their alarms over Gen. Buhari’s certificate amounted to nothing.

    “Out of shame, they have decided to keep their findings under wraps.”

    Another reliable source in PDP said: “We have been briefed that there is little we can do to stop Gen. Buhari.”

    In Abuja, the Army on former Head of State Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s academic records, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate obtained the West African School certificate (WASC) in 1961.

    The Army however added that the original copy, Certified True Copy, or statement of Buhari’s WASC result could not be found in his file.

    Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye who who addressed a press conference at the Army Headquarters said:

    “Records available indicate that Major General Muhammadu Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961.

    “His application was duly endorsed by the principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him to be suitable for military commission. It is a practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the Service, the Selection Board verifies the original copies of credentials that are presented.

    “However, there is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s. Nevertheless, the entry made on the NA Form 199A at the point of documentation after commission as an officer indicated that the former Head of State obtained the West African School Certificate in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects.”

    He listed the subjects to include: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and English Literature.

    “Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General Buhari’s WASC result is in his personal file.

    “I hope this explanation will put to rest the raging controversy surrounding the secondary school credentials of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army”.

    The Army spokesman said the military holds Gen. Buhari in high esteem and would not be party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office.

    “Suffice to state that Major General Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming the Head of State of our dear country in December 1983.

    “The media hype on retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s credentials as well as the numerous requests made by individuals and corporate bodies to the Nigerian Army on this issue have necessitated that we provide the facts as contained in the retired senior officer’s service record,” Gen. Laleye stated.

  • INEC claims ownership of seized ballot boxes

    INEC claims ownership of seized ballot boxes

    The  police in Ogun State have said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed its ownership of the  3,600 ballot boxes that were intercepted at the Odogbolu (Ogun State) stretch of the Lagos-Ore Expressway.

    This followed a stop-and-search operation by soldiers from the 35 Artillery Army Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta.

    It was gathered that the truck was coming from Lagos and taking the boxes to Akwa -Ibom State ..

    It was learnt that when the soldiers could not be convinced about the legality of the boxes, the driver was arrested and taken to Igbeba (Ijebu-Ode) Area Command.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the ballot boxes were in police custody and “meant” for INEC Office, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Adejobi said: “Around 8am yesterday, a team of soldiers (OP MESA) attached to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta who were on stop-and-search around Odogbolu (Ogun State) area of the Sagamu – Benin Expressway, intercepted a truck containing about 3, 600 ballot boxes.

    “Upon interception, when they could not ascertain the authenticity of the ballot boxes, they handed them over to the police at Ijebu Ode Area Command. The police, thereafter, began investigation.

    “We have the 3, 600 ballot boxes belonging to INEC.

    “Some INEC and port officials have called to confirm that the consignment belongs to INEC and that the ballot boxes are meant to be delivered in Akwa Ibom State.

    “For now that we cannot call the ballot boxes fake or illegal.

    “The INEC official who spoke with the police said the contractor ,who was to deliver the items, will come to the police to deliver the relevant documents to clarify this.

    “The items are still with us at this command; we are waiting for the necessary documents to ascertain the claims of INEC or the so-called agent.

    “Don’t let us say that we have recovered illegal ballot boxes. It is too early for us to jump to any conclusion now, but the information we have with us is that they are INEC properties and we are still waiting for necessary documents to clarify this.

    “However, if they cannot produce the document to convince us, we are going to do what we should do.  For now, the matter is still fresh and one shouldn’t jump into conclusion.

    “We are still going to do the necessary follow up on the matter where the command would make further official statement on it.”

  • Oba of Lagos to INEC: don’t alter Nigerians’ wish

    Oba of Lagos to INEC: don’t alter Nigerians’ wish

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to alter the wish of Nigerians at the February elections.

    Akiolu said that INEC should not tolerate rigging or any other electoral malpractice to ensure free, fair and credible polls that would deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

    The monarch who urged the commission to ensure that all eligible voters would get their cards before the elections, assured it of the support of the traditional institution in the state toward credible general elections.

    Akiolu regretted the insurgency in some parts of the country but hoped that it would soon end.

    “I know that our military was not equipped in the past the way it should, but everybody has learnt from his mistakes,’’ the royal father said.

  • ‘APGA must deliver Jonathan in Anambra’

    ‘APGA must deliver Jonathan in Anambra’

    The Chairman of Join Jonathan Journey (JJJ), a group in Anambra State sponsored by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said yesterday that the party must deliver President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election.

    Speaking with reporters, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Inter- party Affairs, Chief Ben Obi, said only APGA was positioned to deliver Jonathan in Anambra State.

    He said the party would not allow the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over tickets to dampen its spirit in delivering Jonathan.

    According to Obi, “with JJJ led by Governor Obiano and my humble self as the chairman, as well as APGA leadership led by Chief Victor Umeh, President Jonathan is sure of the majority votes in Anambra.

    “We have the capacity to achieve and we are happy that President Jonathan has taken us into confidence by acknowledging APGA as a major part of the campaign team.

    “We are on ground and we have been visiting markets, churches and other public places, urging our people to vote for Jonathan and APGA.”

    He said some PDP chieftains were inviting anarchy by campaigning, when they were aware that they had no tickets for elective positions, as published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

  • Ngilari: postpone Adamawa election till May

    Ngilari: postpone Adamawa election till May

    Adamawa State Governor Bala Niglari has called for the postponement of the February 28 governorship election in the state.

    He argued that with the renewed onslaught of insurgency in the state, it was becoming impossible for election to hold.

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, said he was not properly disposed to give an immediate response to the request.

    Ngilari and Jega spoke yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop on Internally Displaced Persons and the 2015 general elections organised by INEC.

    Ngilari said: “In Adamawa, I can truly tell you that seven local government areas are under siege. The supposed peace we have is just the peace of the graveyard. To say that the security situation in these local governments are sufficiently stabilised so that we can have these elections on the 14th of February 2014, to my mind, is fierce.”

    There were shouts of “no no” from the audience and after pausing for a while and with Jega asking the crowd to allow him finish, the governor continued:”That is my position. Anybody is entitled to his views. I am the chief security officer, even as I speak now, this morning,  Mr. Chairman, there was an attack on Uba on the Borno side, which directly affects us in Adamawa.”

    “Therefore sir, it is my submission with due respect, that we passionately request that before the expiration of this government in May,  it will only be fair if we can consider moving this election to about April.”

    Jega explained that the commission would only do elections in areas that were safe.

    While noting that the turn out might be low, the INEC chair said it would not affect the declaration of a winner.