By Olanrewaju Ajao The Presidency on Friday said at no time did the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, insisted that election must go ahead as scheduled on February 14, during the Council of State meeting on Thursday.
Briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said rather, Jega while briefing Council said that given a little more time INEC would be in a better position to perfect these processes and its readiness for the 2015 Elections.
“I wish to state categorically here that at no time during the entire 7 hour meeting did the INEC Chairman , Prof Attahiru Jega insist that the elections must hold on the Feb 14th and 28th 2015 as published by some Electronic / Print Media. Rather Professor Jega gave the Council a report on the Progress so far made by the INEC on its preparedness for the 2015 elections.
“In all its submissions the only process that was 100% concluded was the preparation and availability of the Voters Register.
“All other processes including Provision, distribution and collection of PVC’s, printing of ballot papers, distribution of Verification machines and other non –sensitive materials , recruitment and training of ad hoc Staff were as at 5thFeb 2015 all “Works in progress”; with some assurance that all will be ready on or before 14th of Feb 2015.
“The Chairman also mentioned clearly that given a little more time INEC would be in a better position to perfect these processes and its readiness for the 2015 Elections,” Okupe said.
According to the Presidential senior aide, the INEC chairman also raised concern about the security of lives and property, saying that “The Security Chiefs were unanimous in their advice to the Council that it will be impossible for now for them to guarantee security of electoral materials, INEC Staff, and the voting population in the areas currently engulfed by the War against Insurgency.”
Okupe said President Jonathan is not interested, neither is he engaged in any form of subterfuge to pressurize INEC to change the dates of the 2015 Elections.
The President, he added like many Governors and Citizens of Nigeria was only concerned about the state of preparedness of INEC especially as it concerns the guarantee of the rights of every Nigerian Citizen who has fulfilled the conditions for INEC’s Voter registration, and may still be disenfranchised from the Process of Voting at the General elections
According to Okupe, “the only set of people who stand to benefit from a shift in election dates are Nigerians who desire to vote and have not been able to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and other innocent citizens living in the war zone who may not be able to vote on the 14th February.
“He recollected that in 2003, 2007, and 2011 the elections were held in April, and the hand over date was not affected.
Okupe therefore challenge the opposition to tell Nigerians in clear terms, what dangers the change of date from February 14th portends to the electoral process or to the Nigerian electorates.
“It will also be good if the opposition tells us who stands to benefit or be disadvantaged from any shifting of date and how”.
The SSA Public Affairs reassured Nigerians that there was no plan to cancel the 2015 elections, adding that the May 29th date for the swearing-in is sacrosanct.
“All talks about interim government arrangement is pure fiction.
The consideration behind the possibility of change of date is to allow those who may be disfranchised from voting on the 14th February to have an opportunity to exercise their lawful rights to vote and participate in the general elections,” Okupe stated.
