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Chairman
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega
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The Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has
replied critics pushing for his ouster, saying that he will not resign his
appointment, as he has a job to do.
Also the INEC chairman
expressed satisfaction with the security situation in the northeastern part of
the country, adding, however, that soldiers were never allowed at the polling
units in past polls and would not be allowed during the forthcoming elections.
THISDAY report continues:
Speaking at a town hall
meeting organized by Reinvent Media in conjunction with Ford Foundation and
Kukah Centre in Abuja on Monday, the INEC chairman while responding to
questions, stressed that he intended to superintend the polls, has a job to do
and would remain focused to ensure that the job is done.
“I am not under pressure
to resign. It would be unfair for me to say that I will resign when I have a
job to do. I remain focused,” he said.
He also said that there
was no truth in the insinuation that he was being forced to proceed on a
terminal leave, adding that, “Terminal leave is an option, a grace period given
to anyone to go on leave before he finally leaves office. As I have said
earlier, I have a job to do till April 11.
“Terminal leave is not an
option. Nobody has asked me to proceed on terminal leave other than what I read
in the newspapers.”
Jega said the calls for
his resignation were politically motivated, stressing, “I want to assure
Nigerians that a lot of things being said are diversionary.”
On the claim by the Young
Democratic Party (YDP) that it had obtained a judgment ordering INEC to
register it and include it in the 2015 polls, he said the non-registration of
the YDP would have no impact on the forthcoming elections.
Jega explained that the
commission had already appealed against the ruling of the Federal High Court
and asked for a stay of execution, adding further that the court had also
clarified that it did not make any order directing the commission to include
the party in the general election.
The INEC chairman
explained that though he was not in a proper position to speak on the security
situation ahead of the elections, he however expressed satisfaction with the
improved security situation in the North-east.
“We are very satisfied
with the security situation in the North-east and the rest of the country,” he
said.
On the level of
preparedness of the commission for the general election, Jega said: “We are
ready and prepared for the elections and we will meet the aspirations of
Nigeria,” while appealing to politicians not to divert the attention of the
commission.
He explained that the
permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) and card readers would add value to the
elections, adding: “We are ready for peaceful, credible and transparent
elections with the new innovations and help of the six weeks rescheduling.
“We are adequately
prepared to provide a free and fair election that is better than the 2011
elections.”
He further appealed to
Nigerians to accept the innovations that would guarantee credible polls with a
positive attitude, as the separation of accreditation and polling periods would
reduce fraud in the electoral process, including double voting.
In order to accommodate
more voters during the polls, Jega said INEC had decided to extend the time for
accreditation by one hour. “Accreditation will take place from 8 am to 1 am to
accommodate more voters,” he said.
Jega also clarified the
role of the military during the elections, stating that the commission expects
three police personnel to be deployed at the polling stations, but added
that “no armed policeman will be allowed within the polling units”.
According to him, “Armed
policemen are allowed only 300 metres from the polling units, while military
personnel are allowed as defined in the constitution where they are expected to
maintain their constitutional duties.
“The armed personnel are
allowed for the maintenance or law and order and to avoid security breaches. We
never have had military men within the polling units. The military is only
invited by the Inspector General of Police where there is a complete breakdown
of law and order to support the police.”
Jega expressed
satisfaction with the distribution of PVCs, which he said had attained 81 per
cent collection rate, stressing that during the Ekiti State governorship
election, the collection of the PVcs was at about 65 per cent, while in other
governorship elections conducted by the commission more than 30 per cent of the
eligible voters voted in the elections.
The INEC chairman also
disclosed that the commission was still awaiting the delivery of some 700,000
PVCs, but assured his audience that the outstanding voters’ cards would reach
the commission by Saturday for onward dispatch to the states.
On whether voters would
be allowed to stay back at the polling units after casting their votes, he said
voters were allowed to stay at the polling units in 2011 till the results were
released, adding that for the 2015 polls, they would also be allowed to
wait if they preferred, provided they are orderly.
Jega said only Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States would be allowed
to vote according to their constituencies.
He restated that last
weekend’s fire incident at the commission's institute's warehouse would have no effect on the preparations for the elections.
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