His words: “There are quite a number of issues in the conduct of elections, the most critical of which is security matter which is not under the control of INEC.”
Jega said the commission arrived at the decision after wide consultations with all the relevant stakeholders, including political parties, security chiefs, civil society organizations, the media, among others. Although Prof Jega who addressed the media last night said that INEC was ready with all election matters under its control, it expressed reservations that there were other variables not directly under its control and was therefore compelled to take the security advisory from the National Security Adviser and the Service Chiefs into consideration in adjusting the timetable for the polls. “INEC has cordial relations with all the security agencies, and we consider it imperative not to put our staff (ad hoc and regular staff) at risk if there are no security provisions for them”, he said.
He, however, advised the security agencies to ensure that security situation in the North East under which the shift was predicated were quickly resolved before the new date. In shifting the polls, he said the decision of INEC was in line with section 26, (1) of the 2010 Electoral Act, as amended.
Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Jega said that there were no cost implications in the adjustment, adding that the electoral body would use the extension period to intensify training of its staff on electoral guidelines and the use of card readers to add value to the process. He further assured the nation that the materials already procured would not waste as they were properly secured.
On the allegations of bias leveled against him by Southern leaders under the auspices of Southern Leaders Peoples Assembly (SLPA), he described the accusation as unfounded and vowed not to resign as demanded by the body. He said, “If there are grounds for me to resign I will do that, but if my conscience does not tell me to do that, I will not. I have never shown bias for any section of the country. Rather than do that, I will resign.”
He said but for lack of time, he would have gone to court to compel them to prove their allegation.
Speaking further on the postponement, Jega stressed that it was better to wait until normalcy returned to the Northeast so that the election would be conclusive, in line with constitutional provisions.
Yesterday’s announcement of the shift in the dates of this year’s general election was a confirmation of a report by our sister publication, Daily Sun last Thursday. The report had hinged the imminent postponement of the polls on pressure being mounted on the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attaihru Jega, who had earlier expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct the polls earlier slated for February 14 and 28.
Daily Sun had reported that the INEC boss, in response to the pressure, met with national electoral commissioners for hours last Monday to analyse the readiness of the commission for the exercise.
The meeting, it was gathered, was meant to give Jega information on the level of preparedness of his commission ahead of his scheduled appearance before the National Council of State last week.
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