Jega to appear before Senate today as APC senators allege fresh plot against elections

The Senate, on Tuesday, summoned the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to explain the circumstances relating to the shift in the 2015 general election.

Jega, who is billed to appear before the lawmakers today, is expected to explain the readiness of INEC to deploy card readers in the forthcoming general election fixed for March 28 and April 11.

The Senate agreed to summon Jega, following the adoption of a motion by the Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who demanded that the lawmakers ask Jega to come and brief the plenary on the reason for election postponement and the preparedness of INEC.

The Senate Leader also said that INEC needed to demonstrate how the card reader works and how it would be deployed for the election.

In his contribution, the Senate minority leader, Senator George Akume, however, said though the opposition was in support of Jega’s invitation, the service chiefs, who adduced security reasons to the shift in the elections, should also be invited.

APC senators allege fresh plot against elections

Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged on Tuesday that a fresh plot against the 2015 elections might be in the offing.

The senators, at a press conference in the National Assembly, addressed by Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan manipulated the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to shift the general election.

Akume, who addressed newsmen, said “there is no country in the world whose leader can sit down and do what we are doing here, to undermine our democracy. That is tantamount to treason. We have nothing like interim government in our constitution and, of course, there is nothing like coup in our constitution and therefore, we must do the right thing.

“The president himself has sworn to protect this country and, therefore, where he is going wrong, he must be corrected. Elections must be held as rescheduled, it is important that INEC must do this in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.

“Nigeria is a huge and complex society, culturally, structurally and all hands must be on deck to avoid the Somalia experience.”

He added that “time has passed when people carry ballot boxes and papers to their respective rooms, thumb-print and the following days, we have senators, members of the House of Representatives, governors and president.

“The whole world is watching this county. We have become a laughing stock, we are becoming a banana republic. The fact that we are in the opposition does not make us any security risk.”