Word by word of Prof Jega's Press Briefing shifting the 2015 General Election as he says no court order can stop March, April elections

The postponement of the 2015 general elections continues to generate debate and controversy but the Chairman, Independent Na­tional Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has taken time to explain why the electoral commission shifted the polls, assuring, however, that the new date is sacrosanct.

Speaking after announcing the postpone­ment at the weekend, the INEC boss dispelled the insinuations that certain forces, other than security report, coerced INEC into taking the decision, stating categorically that the electoral body was not acting anybody’s script.

He also reacted angrily to the call for his resignation, stressing that he wouldn’t fail to quit if his actions breached certain conditions that could necessitate his resignation before his tenure expires on June 30. He warned mischief-makers, perfecting plans to scuttle the elections through the courts, insisting that not even any order from any court could stop INEC from conducting the elections on the new dates.

What of if security does not im­prove before the new date?

We hope and pray that the security situation will improve. However, I have said that we as a commission will do everything possible to conduct the elec­tions as the law provides. It clearly provides that the elections must be held, at least, 30 days before the May 29 handover date. As far as we are con­cerned, this is something that must be done and, of course, we have to engage stakeholders to start addressing the question of what if, then what. This is something we have to do with all stakeholders and there is no way we the commissioners will contemplate not holding election before April 29, which will be the 30 days deadline before the handover date.

Issues in transfers of PVCs

It is practically impossible to allow transfers of PVCs, even with the postponement of the elections. We have to certify the register for the elections and they have been produced in many of the states. If we now reopen the registers, it will come with a heavy cost implication and attendant challenges. This is an unusual circumstance that has occurred and in accordance with the legal provisions, you cannot tamper with the register if there is postponement in the election. Regrettably, we are sorry to disappoint some people hoping that this postponement will be a window for them to transfer because it did not conform to our inter­pretations of the law and practical implications.

The cost implications of the postponement

As I speak now, I don’t envisage any cost im­plication for the postponement. As I speak now, I can confirm to you that we have taken delivery of most of our sensitive materials, like ballot papers and they are securely kept in the volt. What is left is just for us to move them to the field. Frankly, I don’t envisage any cost to the postponement. In my presentation to the National Council of State, I had mentioned that there were other things we had wished we could do, which time could not permit. For example, we would have loved to give more hands on training to our adhoc staff with regards to the electoral guidelines and the use of card readers.

We were working under very tight time frame but with this period, we should be able to give them more hands on training, which can add value on the electoral process. I can assure you there is no cost implication. There is no way we can reproduce the election materials we have already produced.

Call for his resignation

On whether I will resign as a result of the call from some people for me to do so, I want to say that if there are grounds for me to resign, I will willingly resign but if because out of invested interest, some people want me to resign, I will not especially when my conscience tells me that there are not sufficient grounds to do so. On the alleged accusation of bias because I have been holding meetings with Arewa Consultative Forum, I want to say that it is s figment of some peoples’ im­agination. I have never met with anybody with a view to designing how one candidate will win or another candidate to lose and I will never do that. I would rather resign this job than do that.

Those are the grounds and conditions under which I can resign. It is very unfortunate that we are in a country where people will sit and conjure all manners of conspiracy theories and the media will regrettably carry the report without through investigations.

These are some of the factors that heighten the political atmosphere and overheat the system in the country. I have resolved not to be distracted with those kinds of calls. I want to emphasise that if there are legitimate grounds that would neces­sitate my resignation, I would gladly do so.

I am here to do my best for my country and I feel honoured that I have this opportunity to that but I will resign the day I cannot no longer do it. Any day somebody brings prove that I have done something wrong that would warrant my resigna­tion, I would gladly leave.

The veracity of the commission’s consulta­tions

We did our best in consulting before taking the decision. The critical stakeholders are the political parties, select civil society organisations espe­cially those engaged in the electoral process. We held meeting with 26 of the 28 registered political parties in attendance and they all voiced their opinions one way or the other. In fact, most of the parties were represented by their chairmen and those who could not come sent their secretaries.

It was the same with admittedly a select group of civil society organisations. We equally invited and held a marathon meeting with all our resident electoral commissioners and they all voiced their opinions.

We did other consultations with opinion leaders, which are not sitting in meetings just to sample their opinions including the Director Gen­eral of the NYSC, where we will get the poll of our adhoc staff we will use for the election. I can hold my head high that we did wide consultations that helped us arrive at the informed decision we have taken.

Consulting the National Assembly

In the National Council of State meeting we had, both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of the House of Representatives were in attendance. They participated actively. I am sure you are aware that the Senate Committee has already notified us that the chamber passed a motion to commend certain adjustments in the voting procedures.

You should also know that the House of Representatives are still on recess but I have had discussions with many members of the National Assembly. I want to say that we have done our fair share of consultation with members of the National Assembly.

Postponement coming too late

On the postponement coming now, I would say that nothing happened before now to warrant the announcement to postpone the election. Even though many have tried to attribute a possible postponement on non-collection of PVCs, but I can say that we don’t believe the collection of PVCs is sufficient reason for the postponement of the election.

But since there is a new issue on whether our personnel, material will be secured when we roll out for the election and the only people who can provide security assurance have said that they would be unable to do so. There are new issues entirely.

Distribution of PVCs in the North East

I can easily give you the statistics of the distribution. In Borno, the collection rate of PVCs is 68.28 per cent, in Gombe, it is 70 per cent. In Yobe, the collection rate is 74.95 per cent, and in Adamawa, the collection rate is 80 per cent. Al­though there are areas that are under the control of the insurgents, there are also many areas not under their control and it is in those areas we were able to distribute the PVCs. Even inside Maiduguri and Adamawa, we have been able to distribute the PVCs to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

In fact, we were preparing to conduct elections to give opportunities to the IDPs to vote according to our schedule. I want to say that, perhaps, this will give us the opportunity to also use the time frame to further perfect those plans in case we still have to deal with the IDPs after the military onslaught during the period of extension.

On whether we will continue the distribution of the PVCs, I want to emphasise that we will endeavour to use this period to add value to our preparations and one area many people have been complaining is the rate of collection of cards. We will certainly do everything possible to ensure that as many Nigerians as possible collect their cards. In fact, by the end of this time period, it should be evident to everybody anybody who has not collected his or her card is really not interested in participating in the election.

The problem is not printing and distribution but that of collection. There is no iota of truth that the contractor handling the production of the PVCs has not delivered over eight million cards. Let me inform you that 96 per cent of the cards have been produced and delivered to the states but we have only about 66 per cent of these have been collected.

Commission coerced into taking decision to postpone the election

I want to reassure you and all Nigerians that nobody forced us to take this decision to postpone the election because they are very weighty deci­sions which we know comes with consequences either way. We just have to satisfy our conscience on whether we are taking the right decision.

Yes, we may not be able to satisfy everybody. In fact, many people will be very angry and alloyed with the decision, but as far as somebody has to take the decision, and it is our lot to do so, we have no option than to do so since it the best under this circumstance.

We are going to have close to 700 adhoc personnel for election duty. There is no way we can deploy these people in good conscience if there is no guarantee of their lives. In fact, there is no guarantee that they would even come out to do the duty if there are aware that they would not be protected. This action in itself may result in the failure of the exercise that every wants to succeed. The decision may not be pleasant but they are necessary decisions we much take as such. So, no­body forced us to take the decision. We stand by the decision because they are the right thing to do.

Possibility of court order stopping INEC from holding election on the new date

My understanding is that no court can stop an already scheduled election. The power to schedule the election is that of INEC. There is a case law to suggest that INEC should not be stopped from performing its constitutional duties.

The feelings of international partners

I must say that the international partners have shown remarkable understanding and support in the reform of the electoral process in our country and we have used every opportunity to acknowl­edge the support they have given to us and the value it has added to our work. We can only hope they can understand the reason we have to take this decision and show their usual understanding and continue to give us the needed support for the deepening of democracy in Nigeria. It was a very difficult decision but the one we had to take under this circumstance.

Postponing the election nationwide instead of the North East

I have stated that we had to do it because of the strong advice from the security chiefs that told us that they would be so busy with the operation they have commenced in the North East and it would be impossible for election to take place before the February date for the election. They warned that it would be impossible for election to take place while military operation is ongoing.

They further said that in addition to that they would concentrate all their energies provide the traditional support military give to the police to support security nationwide during elections. What this means is that all our adhoc staff are not only at risk in the northeast but also at risk if we go ahead with the election as scheduled. We have to postpone the election nationwide because if elections cannot be held in the four states of the northeast, what it means is that no governorship return can be made, and secondly if presidential election holds in other states except those four states, there is going to be high likelihood of hav­ing an inclusive election.

Rather than have an inclusive election, we probably better wait until there is sufficient normalcy in those areas to enable us conduct the election. These are other reason considered before taking the decision.

Date of expiration of his tenure

My tenure ends on June 30, 2015 and on what if government tells me to proceed on terminal leave before the election, I can only say that I will cross the bridge when I get the river.

Interview by  Romanus Ugwu of the Sun