I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ELECTION WILL HOLD ON 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.
Prof. Attahiru Jega
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.
M
r Jega said a meeting with the inter-agency
committee on security will hold a meeting to
discuss security on the Election Day