We’re ready for polls – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
yesterday told the National Council State that it was ready for
the general elections scheduled for February 14 and 28, 2015.
This came after the meeting was divided over whether to shift
the elections or not, with some members supporting
postponement and others opposing it.
Sources at the meeting revealed that the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governors canvassed the shift of the polls based
on the security report the service chiefs gave. On the other
hand, governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
insisted that the elections must hold as scheduled.
At the end of the seven-hour meeting, the council, however,
resolved that it was the responsibility of INEC to decide what
to do.
Sources at the meeting told Daily Sun that the service chiefs
had briefed the meeting about the war against insurgents,
saying that the military needed some time to clear Boko
Haram to ensure security during the elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in his briefing told the
meeting that the electoral body was ready to conduct the
elections as scheduled. He also told members of the progress
the electoral body has made in distributing Permanent Voters
Cards (PVCs).
In advising INEC to decide on what to do, the Council of State
also directed that the commission works close with the
security agencies.
Daily Sun gathered, however, that to finally decide on what to
do, Jega will today meet INEC National Commissioners to look
at the logistics in conducting the elections as scheduled. Also,
the electoral body will tomorrow meet with state electoral
commissioners and political parties on the issue.
Sources revealed that part of what INEC will discuss with the
electoral commissioners and political parties is the
configuration of the PVCs to match the polling booths.
On this, an INEC official told Daily Sun : “The greatest problem
facing INEC is the configuration of the PVCs to match the
polling booths. We will table this at the meeting, to know if
this could be concluded before middle of next week.”
Meanwhile, briefing State House Correspondents at the end of
the meeting, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Segun
Mimiko (Ondo) and James Ngilari (Adamawa) said the Council
of State, being an advisory body, asked INEC to brief the
nation on its preparedness, bearing in mind the inputs of
council members.
Mimiko said the Council of State, in a meeting examined the
state of preparedness of INEC, saying: “INEC had the benefit
of input from council members and security chiefs and
agencies.
“And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of
advice, INEC is constitutionally empowered, with the basis of
discussions, to brief the nation and then the news will be
communication to you.”
Asked if the meeting discussed date shifts, the Ondo State
governor said: “Like I made it absolutely clear, I am not INEC
chief. INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting
we just had.
“INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come
up with a decision and they will brief the nation soon.”
Mimiko also said, when asked if the discussion centred on
postponement: “The Council of State is essentially an advisory
body. Mr. President, in his wisdom, has invited INEC to brief
us on the state of preparedness. Based on what INEC briefed
and based on the perception of council members and security
agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from
INEC.”
Okorocha said: “The Council of State members advised INEC
to go and perform its civic responsibility, which is to conduct
elections. That is what we rose to agree. It was a very
challenging moment, and INEC has reaffirmed severally that it
is ready, but because of the concern of security agencies in
some few local governments, Council asked INEC to go and
perform its civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of
elections.”
Cutting in, Mimiko said: “For any avoidance of doubt, like I
said, INEC had the benefit of input and perspectives from
council members. Issues of distribution of PVCs, Card
Readers, the extent of piloting to ensure that people are
familiar with this, security issues, all of these were discussed.
“Issues of the fact that seven days to election, 34 per cent of
Nigerians are yet to get PVCs. It was a major Issue that was
discussed, issue of preparedness, of security to conduct
elections nation-wide, issue of extensive pilot of the Card
Readers, which is a new technology. All of these were
discussed, but ultimately, Council, being an advisory body,
asked INEC to take advantage of the different perspective of
Council members to take decision about the election.”
Fielding questions from newsmen after the briefing, Okorocha,
when asked if there was a decision as to change of date for
the polls, replied: “There is no decision as to change of date
or postponement at all. But the Council has asked INEC to go
and perform its responsibility.”
Asked if the Council took any decision on the use of
Temporary Voters Card, the Imo governor said: “The
Temporary Voters’ Cards are being exchanged for the new
ones and once you have given out your Temporary Voters
Card, that means you don’t have any more. So they are going
for the Permanent Voters Card and the PVC would be
assumed to have been distributed before Sunday. That was
the essence of the whole exercise, and Jega has reassured us
that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more
prepared than they were in 2011.”
Asked if the report of alleged resignation of Jega was tabled,
Okorocha said: “No, there was nothing like that discussed.”
On whether PDP disagreed on their submissions at the
meeting, Okorocha said: “As usual, we will not be on the same
page on any issues of this nature. It is normal that some will
be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we
looked at the Constitution of Nigeria, that is the only binding
factor when there are issues of disagreement. The
Constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental
law that guides the whole nation’s policies.”
Asked if the APC sees elections holding on February 14 and
28, he said: “That is what we are expecting definitely.”