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Tag: polls

  • Uduaghan doubts INEC’s readiness for polls

    Uduaghan doubts INEC’s readiness for polls

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed concern about the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

    The governor spoke at the weekend on a live radio and television broadcast on the state-owned Delta Broadcasting Service and monitored in Warri by our reporter.

    He wondered if the military would have achieved much success in the Northeast, where INEC said it had some constraints that necessitated the shift in the election dates.

    According to him, no one could tell how long it would take the soldiers to defeat Boko Haram.

    Uduaghan said there was no way elections would be held without proper security.

    The governor said INEC would not have been through with the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) within the given time frame, following the low collection recorded so far.

    The card readers introduced by INEC, he said, were another ground for apprehension.

    Uduaghan said he was aware that the machines had not functioned well.

  • Jonathan, service chiefs under fire over polls shift

    Jonathan, service chiefs under fire over polls shift

    U.S., U.N., ASUU, TUC disappointed

    Falana alleges treason

    President Goodluck Jonathan and the Service Chiefs came under attack yesterday for weekend’s postponement of the general elections.

    The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, by the action of the military chiefs who said they could not guarantee security for the exercise, has committed an impeachable offence, All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said.

    The military chiefs should resign, rights activist-lawyer Femi Falana said.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Attahiru Jega said the agency was persuaded by the memorandum from security chiefs that they could not guarantee protection for the process. INEC  moved the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.

    Jega said the commission was ready for the elections, but could not ignore the written security advice, which many believe was made up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government to halt the momentum of support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Expectedly, the PDP has hailed the polls shift as necessary in the nation’s interest, but the APC described the decision as “a major setback for democracy and highly provocative.” It nevertheless urged Nigerians to remain calm.

    The United States expressed disappointment with the postponement, especially since Secretary of State John Kerry visited President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari last month to extract a promise of a violence-free poll to be conducted as scheduled.

    Kerry said the U.S. is deeply disappointed” by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election.

    “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.

    “The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays,” Kerry said.

    United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged electoral authorities “to take all necessary measures… to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner.”

    He added: “This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election.

    In the statement issued yesterday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and made available by the National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, Oluseyi Soremekun,  Ki-moon said he had separate telephone conversations with President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari last week during which he reminded them of the need to abide by the Abuja peace accord on non-promotion of violence during the elections.

    “The Secretary-General notes the decision of the Nigerian Independent Electoral Commission to postpone the general elections, initially scheduled for 14 February 2015.

    “He urges the electoral authorities to take all necessary measures, such as the rapid distribution of the remaining Permanent Voter Cards, to enable all eligible citizens, including those displaced, to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner.  “This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election.

    “He looks to Nigeria’s authorities to uphold their commitment to ensure a violence-free election and put in place adequate security measures so that citizens across the country are able to exercise their civic duty safely and without fear.

    “The Secretary-General hopes that the forthcoming elections will meet the high expectations of the Nigerian people and the international community.

    “The successful conduct of these polls would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and enable the country to continue to play a leading role in the promotion of regional peace and security,” he said.

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana said the security chiefs who said they could not guarrantee security for the poll could be tried for treason.

    In an open letter yesterday, Falana said: “Since the President could not persuade the National Assembly to pass a resolution for tenure elongation on spurious grounds, the service chiefs allowed themselves to be manipulated to subvert the democratic process. “Thus, by causing the election to be postponed, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the security chiefs have staged a coup against the Constitution.

    “They are liable to be prosecuted for the grave offence of treason at the appropriate time.”

    He added: “If the satanic Boko Haram sect is not defeated by the armed forces of the republics of Chad, Cameroon and Niger in the next six weeks, the security chiefs are likely to ask for another postponement of the general elections on the grounds that the operations in the Northeast have not been successfully concluded.

    “As such extension cannot be accommodated under the Electoral Act and the Constitution the democratic process may be terminated by the security chiefs to pave the way for the much-touted Interim national government.”

    Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko called for the resignation of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police for orchestrating the shift in the elections.

    The governor said: “All the service chiefs and the IGP should resign now for dereliction of their duties as they have failed the nation and Nigerians.

    “The shift in dates was orchestrated by the PDP but the action is just akin to the fruitless efforts of a sinking ship or a dying person.

    “They should therefore honourably resign as they could not guarantee safety of Nigerians on election days as their statutory and civic duties.

    “How can the Boko Haram and a myriad of security challenges, which have been bedeviling Nigeria for some years be solved in paltry 36 days.

    “All of us should be patriotic and pious enough to put Nigeria first above our egocentric and diabolical interests,” Wamakko, urged.

    He said the APC and its members were law-abiding; “hence, abhor any acts capable of causing a breach of the peace and unity.”

    Gen. Buhari’s running mate  Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said President Jonathan should resign or be impeached for his failure to secure the country.

    In a tweet on his handle @Prof Osinbajo, he said “If the president says ‘I’ve lost the capacity to guarantee the security of lives and property’, it’s certainly an impeachable offence.

    “If a government needs to put adverts in the (news) papers, to advertise what they’ve done after six years, then there’s a big problem.

    “My personal reaction (to the polls shift) was one of disgust. I was disgusted that government chose to be so devious.

    “All former Heads of States agreed: if the insurgency is happening in 14 LGAs, surely the elections can go on?

    “It’s ironic that in many countries where insurgencies happen,  elections go on, Nigerian troops keep the peace there.

    “PVCs collection in Adamawa and Yobe, where there is insurgency, is over 70%.

    ”We’re becoming accustomed to the impunity of this government. And I think it’s so sad that they would go against the wishes of the people. “

    Also speaking on a radio programme monitored in Lagos yesterday, Osinbajo said: “I think it’s so sad that they would go against the wishes of the people.

    “There has never been 100 per cent Permanent Voter Card collection. Ekiti and Osun states; less than 60 per cent, all of a sudden, the government is concerned.”

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi accused the Presidency of “polluting the military” to facilitate the polls shift against the wishes of Nigerians.

    “It was apparent that the military and presidency boxed INEC to a tight corner by merchants of retrogression to get the postponement to achieve their devilish motives.

    “I believe what we are expected to do as democrats must be those things that would strengthen democracy. For military to be saying that it would overcome insurgency it had failed to curtail in five years. Is that not standing logic on its head? You could see that Nigerians are very unhappy.

    “To me, this is more of a civilian coup against democracy because for military to have said that it cannot provide security for INEC top prosecute the election implies that it is hands in gloves with the presidency. This is a travesty and a danger to our democracy.

    “Military is a product of Nigeria and not the father of Nigeria and it must do everything to protect this democracy.”

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also flayed the polls shift.

    ASUU President Dr Nasir Fagge told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the security issue which the shifting of the polls was predicated on, was not sufficient.

    He expressed doubt if the six weeks extension would be enough to tackle the security issue.

    “However, if the election umpire has been convinced enough to have the elections postponed, especially as it concerns security, then let us give them the benefit of doubt.

    “All I can say at this point is to call on Nigerians to organise themselves very well and keep their eyes open.

    “I also want to seize this opportunity to appeal to them to use this period to ensure that they collect their voter cards and ensure that they do not only vote but also ensure that their votes count,” Dr. Fagge said.

    TUC President Bobboi Bala Kaigama described the

    postponement as “a great setback capable of truncating the country’s frail peace.

    The Congress urged Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence.

    “We therefore charge the security agencies to put their acts together to return the country to the path of peace devoid of security challenges that may serve as another set of excuses for further postponement. The national institutions must not be trivialised on the altar of politics.

    ”We wish to reiterate that the swearing in date (May 29) is sacrosanct to avoid plunging the country into constitutional crisis,” TUC said.

     

  • 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.

  • Mark: polls shift necessary to avoid anarchy

    Mark: polls shift necessary to avoid anarchy

    The Senate President, David Mark, has urged Nigerians to put the country first before any partisan consideration.

    Mark said this in a statement in Abuja following the postponement of the elections.

    He noted that no matter the political divide, “we all must take the path of caution in order not to jeopardise the process towards a successful exercise in the Nigerian project.”

    The Senate president cautioned against the noise trailing the shift in the conduct of the polls, saying: “It is a necessary step to avoid anarchy and chaos because of some shortcomings and insecurity fuelling the already charged atmosphere.”

    Mark, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said: “To conduct a peaceful, free, fair and credible election that meets international best practices, unarguably demands that all stakeholders and participants be on the same wave length.

    “It is a process that must of necessity be followed religiously. Any of the steps not taken or subverted could produce a questionable result.

    “That is why, we must all be careful in what we do or say.”

     

  • Momoh: military has no power to decide on polls

    Former Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Prince Tony Momoh said yesterday that the only security agents that can guarantee free elections are the police.

    The army, the former minister noted, “has no power or right to decide which day to vote or which day not to vote.”

    His words: “My reaction to this matter is independent. They told us that the election is February 14, and we all worked toward the date. “

    “The only person that can tell us that February 14 is not feasible is INEC. The only security agents that can equally tell us that it cannot guarantee free elections are the police. The army has no power or right to decide which day to vote or which day not to vote.

    “Their own area of operation is the external affairs. They are to protect the territorial integrity of the country against external aggression. If there is problem in 14 local government areas, in a country with 774 local governments and if you minus the councils with problem from those without problem, elections can still be held successfully.

    “They are telling us not to hold elections in all other areas because 14 councils have problem. So, we must find out why there are no guarantees for INEC to conduct elections in all the other areas. They must tell Nigerians.

    “With the commission of some other people, they are imposing their own wishes on the Nigerians people to derail our democracy. I begin to think of the June 12, 1993 scenario.

    “Nigerians will not accept the June 12 scenario now. It is only the police that will be present where INEC will carry out elections.

    “Everybody should know that this is an attempt to divert attention; and nobody attention should be diverted.

  • Polls: Don’t relocate, DSS tells Nigerians

    Polls: Don’t relocate, DSS tells Nigerians

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has called on Nigerians living in locations outside their states of origin not to relocate to their home states in anticipation of violence arising from the coming elections.

    In a statement last night by the spokesperson of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, the agency assured the citizenry of their safety in any part of the country before, during and after the elections.

    The statement said: “It has come to the knowledge of security agencies that people are relocating to their states of origin in anticipation of violence during the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    “We wish to reassure the public of their safety wherever they reside as adequate security is assured for all before, during and after the elections.

    “We want to also seize this opportunity to caution those who spread falsehood or rumours of violence to desist from such acts.Those who intend to foment trouble are hereby warned that there will be no hiding place, as the long arm of the law will fish them out”.

  • Polls: Fed Govt, others meet over schools

    Polls: Fed Govt, others meet over schools

    Minister of Education Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has summoned an emergency meeting with commissioners of Education and stakeholders in education over the general elections.

    The development followed insinuations from different quarters that government was planning to close schools during the polls.

    The meeting, which is expected to begin this morning in Abuja, will deliberate on whether or not to close schools before the elections.

    Shekarau, who said this in Abuja at the weekend during a dinner with reporters and heads of education parastaters, said government would do everything possible to secure students and schools.

    His words: “I am summoning commissioners of Education and other stakeholders in the education sector to Abuja for a crucial meeting on Monday morning. And we will be discussing if there is any need to close schools and when will that be.

    “People should not carry any rumour about this as government has not taken any decision on this. There should be no tension as government will do everything possible to avoid crisis. The meeting is very important just as we did during the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) saga.”

  • Obasanjo to INEC, security agencies: get polls right

    Obasanjo to INEC, security agencies: get polls right

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reminded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies that the nation is under global watch regarding the February 14 and 28 general elections.

    Obasanjo warned that Nigeria must get the elections right, asking INEC and the police to perform their duties professionally and judiciously to ensure credible, peaceful and fair elections.

    The former president, who gave the advice at a public enlightenment programme on electoral process at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, said should Nigeria mishandle the elections, it would invite global opprobrium.

    The programme with the theme: “Ensuring free, fair and credible elections: A Collective responsibility,” was jointly organised by the Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen (OTM) and The Muslim Congress (TMC), Ogun State chapters.

    Obasanjo was represented by Chief Idowu Akanle.

    According to the former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), all eyes are on INEC and the Nigeria Police to carry out their constitutionally assigned roles effectively and in manners devoid of excuses.

    Obasanjo said:”The elections are crucial and the international community is watching us. We should not disappoint them, by ensuring that the elections are free and fair. This election is for progress and development of this great country and should be devoid of sentiments, such as religion, ethnicity and nepotism.

    “This election should be a unity election for all of us. The message is for all Nigerians to protect the integrity of the country, with their votes, so that we can also be like countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai, where there is order in governance.

    “We must not make mistake of allowing the international community to make jest of us. So, we want to beg officials of the electoral commission, who had just told us here on how the process would go, to assure us that it shall be well.

    “You must be fully prepared. You must be up-and-doing. No excuses. You know all terrains very well; there should be no delay and late arrival of voting materials. Where you are going to use boat to ferry on the water; you know it. Where it is going to be bicycle; you know it. So, there should be no unnecessary delay.

    “A situation where somebody at Eggua will be phoning at 11am that they are still expecting materials will be unacceptable. A situation where the police will be telling us no fuel to move will be unacceptable.”

    The former President urged the security agents not to allow themselves to be used by individual or group to pervert the electoral process before, during and after the elections while the electorate is advised to vote wisely.

    He added that voters’ decisions would go a long way to determine the quality of governance the country would have in the next four years.

    “As I said, the international community is looking at us. So, we must be careful and thorough throughout the elections. We must get it right; this is the message from Baba to you.”

  • PDP’s desperate push for polls shift

    Towards the end of last year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised the alarm and alleged that there were subterranean moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the presidency and its cohorts to postpone the general elections scheduled for next month. Not many Nigerians took the APC’s allegation seriously, considering the level of allegations and counter-allegations between it and the PDP since its successful merger. Some assumed that it was part of campaign and politicking that will precede the election. But consistently APC repeatedly alerted Nigerians about plans by the PDP to shift the February elections. When the allegation was made, neither the PDP nor the Presidency refuted or acknowledged it. The duo maintained studied silence, pretending not being in the knowhow of the plan to postpone the election.

    True to the APC allegation, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) recently canvassed for the postponement of the elections to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time to distribute over 30 million outstanding Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters. Dasuki, according to report, 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. Before Dasuki spoke at the Chatham House, a London think-tank, supportive of the PDP 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.

    There is no doubt that Dasuki’s call is a confirmation that the Presidency and the PDP were tinkering with idea of compelling or pushing INEC to postpone the elections as earlier alleged by APC. For the National Security Adviser in the PDP-led government to openly canvass for the shift of the polls calls for concern. It also raises question on the independence of the electoral commission ahead of the polls. It may not be out of place to suggest that the Presidency, PDP and their cohorts have infiltrated INEC to ensure that they have their way.

    Before Dasuki’s call, Adamawa State governor, Bala Ngilari made a similar call for the shift in the polls. The unison with which they chorused the shift is not only suspicious, but conspiratorial. Their reasons are not tenable because INEC had assured that the remaining permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) would be continuously distributed till February 13. It would also be recalled that in most of his campaign speeches, President Jonathan had always said that May 29 handover is sacrosanct, but has never mentioned that February polls are sacrosanct.

    Instead of calling and championing for the shift of the polls, the PDP and its allies should call for the use of the temporary voters’ cards for the elections as demanded by members of the House of Representatives during their last session. Hiding under the flimsy excuse that previous elections have been conducted in April to justify their position for the shift is hypocritical and questionable. If that is the case, why not call for the shift earlier than now to save the commission and Nigerians the waste of time and money?

    The report that PDP and Presidency are desperately trying to procure jankara court injunction to stop the polls and the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) from contesting it is not only worrisome, but illegal and undemocratic. If the report is true, it means that the country may be heading back to the days of June 12, 1993 political chaos. Nigerians should remind the PDP and its champions of poll shift about JP Clark’s poem titled “The Casualties.” As can be seen across the country, some sponsored groups have staged protests to INEC offices across the country including Abuja asking for the shift of the polls to allow Nigerians collect their PVCs. Actions and body languages of these groups are not quite different from what some PDP chieftains and their allies are asking for. So it is obviously the hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.

    The questions that should be troubling the mind of Nigerians are: why should PDP chieftains be asking for the shift of polls now and mounting pressure on INEC to disqualify Buhari on the ground of non-qualification? Presently, PDP is in dire need of peace, unity and cohesion following the intra-party crisis that had trailed the outcome of the party primaries across the country.

    From Ebonyi to Delta, Bauchi, Abia to Cross River and other states, there are obvious discontent and division within the party and the party chieftains know that such will hurt them in the elections if conducted as scheduled. It may not be out of place that the push for the poll shift by the PDP is to enable them put their houses in order and to further demonise the APC presidential candidate, Buhari through fabricated documentaries and spurious adverts. It seems they also need more time to spread false propaganda on President Jonathan’s unverifiable achievements in the last six years which Nigerians have called to question.

    Whichever way one looks at it, PDP chieftains’ push for poll shift smacks of desperation and lack of confidence in the ability of the party to win the general elections convincingly. If not, many Nigerians had expected that such call for shift should have emanated from the opposition party APC.

    Apart from the call for polls shift, PDP’s undue pressure on INEC to disqualify Buhari on the ground of non-possession of requisite qualification is pure pettiness and undue distraction from germane issues at stake. PDP should heed INEC’s advice to approach the court because by law, INEC has no power whatsoever to disqualify candidates submitted by political parties in an elections. Why is the PDP or Presidency afraid of going to court over the issue, but have continued to mount campaign of calumny against the leadership of the INEC?  The leadership of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has even threatened to pass a vote of no confidence on INEC for not disqualifying Buhari! What a cheap blackmail for a party that is drowning and has continued to chase rat while its house is on fire?

    Meanwhile, INEC has stated that it was yet to receive any formal request for the postponement of the elections, it insisted that it would stick to its timetable for the polls. Its quick response is a welcome development. It shows the readiness and firmness of the commission to conduct the polls as scheduled. The commission should work hard to ensure that all registered voters get their PVCs before the elections as promised.

    Apart from this, the commission should know that it is its  constitutional right to fix date for elections not PDP or anybody including the Presidency. The commission’s leadership should be aware that all eyes are on them, and should not allow themselves to be use as pawns in the political chessboard of anybody ahead of the polls. Nigerians are quite aware that the hiccups being experienced by the commission towards the preparation of the polls is as a result of the federal government’s failure to release all the commission’s 2014 budgetary allocation.

    Nigerians at this critical time in the search for true and capable leadership cannot afford to witness a compromised, rigged and crisis-ridden elections.

    • Ntama a retired civil servant wrote from Asaba, Delta State
  • Again, no to polls shift

    Again, no to polls shift

        •Postponement of elections barely two weeks to E-Day is dangerous

    It started as rumour. It was too dangerous a thought to be entertained. Why would anyone want to shift the dates of elections fixed about one year ago? But, the call has now become too loud to be ignored, even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to accede to the request. Proponents of the idea insist that the country is already in a bind and only a shift would protect the credibility of any election conducted as fixed this month.

    For this, they rely on the casual manner of production and distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by INEC. In a state like Lagos, only about 35 per cent of those registered in 2014 have been issued the card, which INEC insists is the only valid qualification to participate in the election.

    They have also pointed out that the widely touted magic wand for electoral integrity  – the card reader –  is a technology that remains untested. They argue that the general election, starting with presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives polls are too important to be used for the experiment.

    While the argument may sound somehow logical, we are constrained to reject it outright in the country’s interest. A shift of the polls could set the entire country on fire. First, while it is being argued that no date is sacrosanct since it is not enshrined in any law, it must be pointed out that all those involved – the electoral body, political parties, candidates, observers and the electorate had made all preparations towards the dates announced by INEC last year. A shift would put some strain on the stakeholders who had legitimately assumed that the only body saddled with the conduct and management of the process had done its homework before releasing the timetable.

     

    Calls for shift preposterous

     

    Besides, at the moment, INEC is yet to declare its inability to live up to its constitutional responsibility. If the commission should accede to this strange request at this point, it would be an admission of failure by a body that had more than four years to produce and distribute the PVCs. Nigerians had called for the use of the card readers and PVCs for the 2011 election, given the huge amount the country committed to the project. The public only relented on the ground that the commission that came on board in 2010 be allowed adequate time to prepare. It was believed at the time that the process would have been concluded within two years.

    We are bothered by the dire consequences of a shift. There are two major political parties in the land and it promises to be a keen contest. It is, in fact, the closest that the opposition has got to presenting an alternative to the ruling party. It has been observed in various parts of the world that the keener an election is, the more tensed the atmosphere. Nigerian elections have always been marked or marred by violence. To save the country this recurrent ugly experience, the election must not only be free and fair, it must be so adjudged by all, including the opposition, international observers, domestic observers and the electorate.

    In this instance, the shift is being championed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but opposed by the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). In view of this, the country sits precariously on a keg of gunpowder. Its fate is too important to be so trifled with. We are convinced that this is an example of when a matter may be permitted by law, yet inexpedient. We agree that the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) allows an election to be conducted within the band of 150 to 30 days before the expiration of the incumbents’ tenure, but, having freely come up with the February 14 and 28 days, INEC should keep faith with them. In 2011, it had a false start and had to call off an election it had started, this should not be a repeat of sort.

    At any rate, what is the ruling party’s interest in championing the call for postponement of the polls? Some say it is to enable it put a few things in order so as to shore up its waning image because, as things stand, it is going to the polls from a position of weakness. But why should that be a burden that Nigerians must carry? How does that concern Nigerians? The ruling party has had more than five years under the Jonathan presidency to prove its mettle, if it has wasted the opportunity, whose fault is that? What is it that it wants to do even if the three months’ extension is granted that it could not have accomplished in five years?

    INEC has to understand that Nigeria is more polarised along ethnic, religious and partisan lines now than at any other point. This is the more reason why it should not toy with the idea of postponing the polls. What the situation calls for is for us all to play our parts by avoiding the ugly incidents that led to deep divisions in the past. This is a point at which all hands must be on deck to save the country. We therefore call on the federal and state governments to provide all the support needed by INEC to get all willing voters to obtain their cards within the 11 days left before the first set of elections. Nigeria invested heavily to make this INEC succeed and it would be a tragedy if it fails the test.

     

    Big tragedy

     

    It would be tragic for the commission to shift the election and set the nation on edge and ultimately prove right those who had predicted that the 2015 elections could ironically truncate democracy in the land.

    The matter, as we noted,  is worsened by the fact that it is the ruling party that is behind the calls for postponement of the polls, using all manner of subterfuge, thus preparing our minds to travel the usual roads that we travelled in the past.  INEC must be wary of falling into the temptation, lest it be accused of bias even before the contest starts.

    The commission’s chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, must understand that all eyes are on Nigeria and the way he handles the polls, particularly the calls for postponement, would go a long way in testing the commission’s impartiality and independence. As we have always argued, rigging of election does not start on voting day; it starts with little details like the one under consideration.