The National Council of State rose from its meeting Thursday, rejecting the proposal that the upcoming general elections be postponed.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State briefed State House correspondents after the meeting that lasted for about seven hours at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Council’s rejection was anchored on the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission which says it is ready to go ahead with the elections as scheduled on February 14 and 28, 2015.
Okorocha said the Security Chiefs also confirmed that they are ready to provide security cover during and after the elections.
Okorocha said, “It was one of an unusual Council of State meeting that took over seven hours deliberating on a very sensitive issue as to whether INEC is prepared for the elections or not and whether there is need for the change of dates of these elections.
“INEC has said they are very ready to conduct these elections and the security agencies have shown concerns about certain local governments where they have security challenges. But INEC has the power to conduct elections including fixing dates of elections.
“The Council rose that INEC should then inform the nation as to their preparedness and proceed to conduct the elections.
“The Council has asked INEC to perform its civic responsibility which is to conduct election. That is what we rose to agree. It was a very challenging moment and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready. But because of the concerns of the security agencies in few local governments, Council asked INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility.
“There is no decision as to change of dates or postponement at all…. Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011.”
Also speaking, Governor Olusegun Mimiko had this to say about the decisions reached, “Council of State was in a meeting close to seven hours. Essentially the state of preparedness of INEC was on the table. 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 brief the nation and then the news will be communicated to you.
“INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision and they will brief the nation soon.”
Prompt News reports that there have been agitations and protests by different groups pushing for the postponement, arguing that millions of eligible voters are yet to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
But, the opposition All Progressives Congress and other progressive political parties have been insisting that the elections should hold as scheduled.
It will be recalled that the United States through the Secretary of State, John Kerry has also said the elections should hold as scheduled.
Present at the meeting were former Heads of State Generals Yakubu , Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Shehu Shagari, former Head of Interim Government Earnest Shonekan and State Governors.
Also present were Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Chief Justice of Nigeria, the State Governors and FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
