… As Jega meets Council of State
This month’s gen¬eral elections may eventually be shift¬ed, as the Federal Government appraises the level of preparedness of the Independent Na¬tional Electoral Commis¬sion (INEC) in relation to logistics.
The presidential and Na¬tional Assembly elections are scheduled for February 14, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are slated to hold on February 28.
Daily Sun gathered that fol¬lowing pressures on the Chair¬man of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to shift the elections, he met with his national electoral commissioners on Monday for many hours in Abuja, to anal¬yse their state of readiness for the elections.
It was gathered that the INEC officials examined the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVCs), deployment of the card readers and engage¬ment of ad-hoc staff who would conduct the elections.Sources revealed that al¬though the INEC had distrib¬uted about 44.7 million PVCs and hoping to distribute more to the 68 million registered voters by February 8, the of¬ficials noted that even at that, the PVCs must be registered according to polling booths and the card readers were to be configured according to the polling booths. All these, the source said were supposed to be done in the next 10 days, ahead of February 14.
It was also gathered that the INEC officials noted that the training of ad-hoc staff on how to use the card readers and conduct the elections generally had not been completed.
Daily Sun gathered that the meeting was meant to give Jega information, as he is scheduled to appear before the Council of State today to report on the level of preparedness of INEC for the elections.
Sources, however, revealed that if Jega could not con¬vince the Council of State that INEC would have distributed 68 million PVCs, registered the PVCs according to poll¬ing units, configured the card readers according to polling booths as well as have ad-hoc staff ready by early next week, the Council of State would per¬suade him to shift the elections. By the provisions of the Elec¬toral Act, only the INEC chair¬man had the power to shift the polls.
If the elections were called off, it was gathered, the new date would be in April, which would still be covered by the provisions of the constitution. Sources revealed that the presi¬dential and National Assembly elections may then be slated for April 12, while the gover¬norship and state Houses of Assembly elections may hold on April 26.
Two weeks ago, the idea to shift the polls was considered, following the military’s plans for massive onslaught against Boko Haram.
The National Security Ad¬viser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, had met with service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, director general of the Depart¬ment of State Services (DSS) and Jega to deliberate on the elections.
It was then gathered that the service chiefs hinted that a huge operation against Boko Haram was being planned, aimed at finally crushing insur¬gents. With this, they proposed the postponement of the elec¬tions, since it would be unwise to go on with voting in a situa¬tion of war.
Although Jega was not happy with the suggestion for elections to be shifted, he had promised the security meet¬ing that he would consult with stakeholders. Monday’s meet¬ing is believed to be part of the consultation.
Dasuki had, however, while speaking in London last week, called for the postponement of the elections.
Source: Sun
This month’s gen¬eral elections may eventually be shift¬ed, as the Federal Government appraises the level of preparedness of the Independent Na¬tional Electoral Commis¬sion (INEC) in relation to logistics.
The presidential and Na¬tional Assembly elections are scheduled for February 14, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are slated to hold on February 28.
Daily Sun gathered that fol¬lowing pressures on the Chair¬man of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to shift the elections, he met with his national electoral commissioners on Monday for many hours in Abuja, to anal¬yse their state of readiness for the elections.
It was gathered that the INEC officials examined the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVCs), deployment of the card readers and engage¬ment of ad-hoc staff who would conduct the elections.Sources revealed that al¬though the INEC had distrib¬uted about 44.7 million PVCs and hoping to distribute more to the 68 million registered voters by February 8, the of¬ficials noted that even at that, the PVCs must be registered according to polling booths and the card readers were to be configured according to the polling booths. All these, the source said were supposed to be done in the next 10 days, ahead of February 14.
It was also gathered that the INEC officials noted that the training of ad-hoc staff on how to use the card readers and conduct the elections generally had not been completed.
Daily Sun gathered that the meeting was meant to give Jega information, as he is scheduled to appear before the Council of State today to report on the level of preparedness of INEC for the elections.
Sources, however, revealed that if Jega could not con¬vince the Council of State that INEC would have distributed 68 million PVCs, registered the PVCs according to poll¬ing units, configured the card readers according to polling booths as well as have ad-hoc staff ready by early next week, the Council of State would per¬suade him to shift the elections. By the provisions of the Elec¬toral Act, only the INEC chair¬man had the power to shift the polls.
If the elections were called off, it was gathered, the new date would be in April, which would still be covered by the provisions of the constitution. Sources revealed that the presi¬dential and National Assembly elections may then be slated for April 12, while the gover¬norship and state Houses of Assembly elections may hold on April 26.
Two weeks ago, the idea to shift the polls was considered, following the military’s plans for massive onslaught against Boko Haram.
The National Security Ad¬viser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, had met with service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, director general of the Depart¬ment of State Services (DSS) and Jega to deliberate on the elections.
It was then gathered that the service chiefs hinted that a huge operation against Boko Haram was being planned, aimed at finally crushing insur¬gents. With this, they proposed the postponement of the elec¬tions, since it would be unwise to go on with voting in a situa¬tion of war.
Although Jega was not happy with the suggestion for elections to be shifted, he had promised the security meet¬ing that he would consult with stakeholders. Monday’s meet¬ing is believed to be part of the consultation.
Dasuki had, however, while speaking in London last week, called for the postponement of the elections.
Source: Sun
