By Olusegun Lawrence The All Progressives Congress members in the Senate Tuesday differed sharply with their Peoples Democratic Party counterparts on the invitation extended to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attairu Jega, to appear before the lawmakers on Wednesday.
The Senate summoned Jega to appear before it to explain what informed the postponement of the general elections.
Jega had while announcing the polls shift said he received letter from the Security Chiefs demanding polls shift six weeks because of the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgency in teh north east.
Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, who sponsored the motion, recalled that the INEC chairman had assured Nigerians that election will hold as earlier scheduled on February 14 and 28, 2015.
But, Ndoma-Egba’s motion which was approved by the Senate did not go down well with the Minority Leader George Akume, who also argued that Service Chiefs should be summoned to explain their failure to guarantee security of electorates.
Akume said, “INEC has said it was ready until issue of security was raised by Service Chiefs. They should therefore come here and tell us why they failed to provide security for just a day for two exercise.” His motion was however dropped.
Senate President David Mark agreed with motion to summon the INEC boss to appear before lawmakers and come with card reader machine.
He also directed the Senators to come with their PVCs so that the card readers could be tested.
Meanwhile, APC Senators seem not satisfied with the dropping of Akume’s motion, insisting that Service Chiefs and not Jega should appear before the Senate to explain their roles in polls shift.
Briefing reporters in company of other APC Senators, Minority Leader George Akume, accused the PDP of planning to scuttle the use of card reader machines in the upcoming elections.
He said, “Since the return of this country to participatory in 1999, all Nigerians have been committed to the protection of our democracy. The role of the opposition in a democracy is clearly established in the constitution of our country and other relevant extant legislations.
“It is the responsibility of all of us to continue to support democracy in the land. You will recall that the National Assembly was on break to enable us participate in the elections which were scheduled for February, this year.
“The production of PVCs we know is the responsibility of INEC. They distribute to the states and the people also come forward to receive these cards. As political parties, we also have the role to play, in ensuring that Nigerians, particularly our supporters have access to the PVCs. It is not that the PVCs put in boxes and kept somewhere, in the INEC office no. They are there for people to pick.
“INEC has produced over 67 million PVCs and of course, every Nigerian who is registered has the responsibility to come forward form them.
” Nigerians deserve the best. Card readers will add value to the conduct of the elections; we are talking about free and fair elections. Time has passed when people carry ballot boxes and papers to their respective rooms, thumb-print and the following days, we have senators, we have members of the House of Representatives, we have governors and we president.
“We want elections and card readers must be applied, they must be used, otherwise, the elections can never be free and fair. If this country called Ghana can get it right, using the card reader, why can’t the giant of Africa do it?
“If Sierra Leone can do it, even Liberia, why can’t Nigeria do it? We are waiting for INEC to do it, INEC must do it.
“Card readers are a must to ensure free, credible, acceptable elections. To do otherwise, won’t be acceptable.”
