AGAIN!! Jega Tells Senators He Can’t Guarantee Elections Will Hold March 28

The Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission,
INEC, Attahiru Jega, has told
Nigerian federal lawmakers he could
not guarantee the 2015 general
elections will hold on rescheduled
dates in March and April.
At a meeting with Senators
Wednesday, Mr. Jega said he could
not commit himself to the “sanctity”
of March 28 and April 11 – dates for
the rescheduled Nigeria’s general
elections.
He said the electoral commission
could not guarantee aspects of the
poll that are beyond its control.
Mr. Jega met with the lawmakers to
review the decision to postpone the
polls from February.
Under the Nigerian law, a further
six-week extension of the elections
is possible, a prospect opposed by
many Nigerians, the main opposition
All Progressives Congress, APC, and
the international community.
INEC had said the postponement
were necessary for security reasons,
as military chiefs had warned
against going on with the vote to
allow it focus on fighting the terror
group, Boko Haram.
But the APC said the delay was
instigated by President Goodluck
Jonathan, to save him and ruling
party from losing the elections to
the APC candidate, Muhammadu
Buhari.
Since announcing the new dates
nearly two weeks ago, the
commission has declined to clearly
confirm that there will be no further
delay beyond March 28 and April 11,
for presidential, National Assembly,
governorship and state assembly
polls.
Responding to a question by George
Akume, Senate Minority Leader, on
the sanctity of the new dates, on
Wednesday, Mr. Jega said it was
difficult for him to respond, saying
he could only give assurances over
aspects within the control of INEC.
“That’s a very difficult question to
answer. I have said not everything
that has to do with the conduct of
successful election is within the
control of INEC,” Mr. Jega said.
Use of card readers
Mr. Jega also said the commission
will go forward with its plan to
deploy card readers for the
elections.
There have been some concerns,
mainly from the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, about the
plan as Nigerian law prohibits
electronic voting.
On Wednesday, while PDP Senators
opposed the plan, their APC
counterparts welcomed it.
Heineken Lokpobri, a PDP Senator
from Bayelsa State and Odion
Ugbesa, from Edo State, argued
against the use of card readers for
the elections, saying it would be
illegal.
In his response, Mr. Jega said card
readers would only be used for
accreditation not actual voting.
He said there was no law forbidding
the use of electronic devices for
accreditation.
“Card reader is used for
accreditation not voting. Voting his
defined as dropping of ballot paper
into ballot box. Accreditation is
essential for integrity of the
election,” he said.
“Nothing in the constitution says we
should not use electronic device in
the process of accreditation.
Anybody that is not satisfied can go
to court. We have solid ground on
that,” he said.
He added that the card readers
would curb electoral malpractices,
as cloned cards would be detected.
Mr. Jega said INEC will perform a
mock test on the card readers.
He said some tests had already been
taken in the United States, and will
now be tested in the six geopolitical
zones.
“The card reader has passed in all
the 13 test categories conducted in
terms of its durability and
versatility,” he said.
Mr. Jega said the postponement of
the general elections will enable
INEC to have a flawless, near-perfect
elections.
INEC National Commissioners are to
visit state offices to conduct
evaluation and comprehensively
determine the level of preparation
in the election.
He said after the visit, the
commission will meet with the
heads of departments and
directorates of units to conduct a
comprehensive assessment, to figure
out additional things to be done
before March 28.
Mr Jega said a meeting with the
inter-agency committee on security
will hold a meeting to discuss
security on the Election Day.
Credit: PremiumTimes