Why Council of state meeting directed INEC to conduct polls as INEC says, We’re ready for polls

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 newsmen 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.

Newsmen 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 said: “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.”

Adapted from The Sun