Barely 10 days to the general elections, the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), the agency charged with the responsibility
of conducting general elections in Nigeria, has been under attack by
some Nigerians over what they describe as the poor handling of the
distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the country.
The electoral body is also facing wide criticism over its preparation for this month’s elections which has resulted in the call by some Nigerians for the postponement of the polls, to enable INEC get its acts together and deliver credible and acceptable elections.
One other area that has created more problems for electoral body is the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) arising from the activities of members of the dreaded Boko Haram sects in the northern part of the country, who fled from their villages to the urban areas, for safety.
Those calling for the postponement of the elections have dwelled more on the lingering insecurity in the North-East where the insurgents have captured some territories. They argue that election cannot hold in the country now excluding these troubled areas where there are eligible voters, noting that no part of the country should be disenfranchised if the election should hold.
Again, the fear of a possible outbreak of electoral violence following inflammatory comments and threats of war by some politicians is also cited as a reason why INEC should allow temper or frayed nerves to calm before an election could hold.
The National Security Adviser,Col. Smbo Dasuki, had last month far away London called for the postponement of the election citinginsecurity and fear of electoral violence . His call was, however received with mix feelings by Nigerians.
Before his call, Pastor Tunede Bakare of the Later Rain Church, Lagos and former vice presidential candidate to General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 elections had made similar call of extension which was some people viewed as unpatriotic.
Prince Chude Chukwani , former national chairman of the defunct Nigerian Democratic Party (NDP) had criticized INEC’s ill-preparedness for the elections accusing her of not been ready for the election. In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Chkwuani said that INEC was not sincere in its approach to the election, adding that the electoral umpire lacks the capacity of conducting a credible election.
There were also protests at INEC headquarters, Abuja, yesterday by some youth groups who equally called on Jega to push forward the election. A group, Forum for Democratic Change led by its national coordinator, Mr Solomon Chuks, claimed that going ahead with the election this month would disenfranchise many Nigerians.
Chuks, while presenting the group’s letter to the INEC chairman said the PVCs that are supposed to be one of the instruments of election have not been fully circulated.
Also, a group of political party leaders under the auspices of Concerned Leaders of Political Parties and Presidential candidates (CLPP) yesterday added its voice to the agitation for the postponement of the February polls even as they vowed to boycott the election if INEC goes ahead with the planned elections.
The group, however suggested that elections be shifted to sometimes in March or April to enable INEC overcome some of its logistics problems, insisting that such postponement will not breach the provisions of section 25 and 26 of the Electoral Act.
At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the leader of the group who is also the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the February election, Bar. Godson Okoye, said that not up to 50% of PVCs have been collected by the electorate, adding that going ahead with the election without addressing the lapses in the distribution of the cards will affect the outcome of the election and democratic principles.
The group noted that a lot need to be done by INEC to ensure that the cards are collected by Nigerians. It claimed that about 3.5 million PVCs are yet to be collected, adding that going ahead the elections will amount to disenfranchising such a large chunk of the electorate.
The party leaders further stated that the level of violence, threat of violence and use of foul languages by some notable politicians in the country in clear breach of the Abuja peace accord does not guarantee a peaceful election. He said that “it appears that Nigerians are not ready for the election but rather war”.
It called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to provide adequate security for Nigerians to collect their PVCs in order to exercise their civic duties.
Dr. Sam Eke, presidential candidate of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP) explained that shifting the elections with one or two months will calm frayed nerves as the tension is high with exodus of Nigerians for fear of a possible outbreak of violence, especially in the north. He said it will afford INEC the opportunity of accommodating the internally displaced person (IDPs).
Meanwhile, Jega has consistently rebuffed such calls maintaining that elections will hold as scheduled, assuring Nigerians that the commission is capable of overcoming the logistics problems encountered in the distribution of permanent voter cards and the procurement of card readers.
During a press conference in Abuja, Jega said that about 65 million PVCs have been collected, leaving about 3.5 million uncollected.
In its bid to correct the lapses and beat the deadline for the collection of the cards, INEC announced an extension of the exercise to enable more Nigerians collect them before February 14th.
Even as Jega made this assurance and clarification, there are still more the calls for the postponement, thus casting doubts and confusion in the minds of Nigerians about whether the elections will be held as planned.
Leadership findings indicate that INEC which has stuck to its earlier position of not shifting the date of the election appears to be a a crossroad as the pressure continues to mount on her by certain forces to bow to pressure and postpone the election. Concern are being raised by political pundits of the consequences of postponing the elections INEC was said to have prepared for in the last four years.
Whether INEC will succumb to these calls of postponement lies in the days ahead.
The electoral body is also facing wide criticism over its preparation for this month’s elections which has resulted in the call by some Nigerians for the postponement of the polls, to enable INEC get its acts together and deliver credible and acceptable elections.
One other area that has created more problems for electoral body is the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) arising from the activities of members of the dreaded Boko Haram sects in the northern part of the country, who fled from their villages to the urban areas, for safety.
Those calling for the postponement of the elections have dwelled more on the lingering insecurity in the North-East where the insurgents have captured some territories. They argue that election cannot hold in the country now excluding these troubled areas where there are eligible voters, noting that no part of the country should be disenfranchised if the election should hold.
Again, the fear of a possible outbreak of electoral violence following inflammatory comments and threats of war by some politicians is also cited as a reason why INEC should allow temper or frayed nerves to calm before an election could hold.
The National Security Adviser,Col. Smbo Dasuki, had last month far away London called for the postponement of the election citinginsecurity and fear of electoral violence . His call was, however received with mix feelings by Nigerians.
Before his call, Pastor Tunede Bakare of the Later Rain Church, Lagos and former vice presidential candidate to General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 elections had made similar call of extension which was some people viewed as unpatriotic.
Prince Chude Chukwani , former national chairman of the defunct Nigerian Democratic Party (NDP) had criticized INEC’s ill-preparedness for the elections accusing her of not been ready for the election. In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Chkwuani said that INEC was not sincere in its approach to the election, adding that the electoral umpire lacks the capacity of conducting a credible election.
There were also protests at INEC headquarters, Abuja, yesterday by some youth groups who equally called on Jega to push forward the election. A group, Forum for Democratic Change led by its national coordinator, Mr Solomon Chuks, claimed that going ahead with the election this month would disenfranchise many Nigerians.
Chuks, while presenting the group’s letter to the INEC chairman said the PVCs that are supposed to be one of the instruments of election have not been fully circulated.
Also, a group of political party leaders under the auspices of Concerned Leaders of Political Parties and Presidential candidates (CLPP) yesterday added its voice to the agitation for the postponement of the February polls even as they vowed to boycott the election if INEC goes ahead with the planned elections.
The group, however suggested that elections be shifted to sometimes in March or April to enable INEC overcome some of its logistics problems, insisting that such postponement will not breach the provisions of section 25 and 26 of the Electoral Act.
At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the leader of the group who is also the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the February election, Bar. Godson Okoye, said that not up to 50% of PVCs have been collected by the electorate, adding that going ahead with the election without addressing the lapses in the distribution of the cards will affect the outcome of the election and democratic principles.
The group noted that a lot need to be done by INEC to ensure that the cards are collected by Nigerians. It claimed that about 3.5 million PVCs are yet to be collected, adding that going ahead the elections will amount to disenfranchising such a large chunk of the electorate.
The party leaders further stated that the level of violence, threat of violence and use of foul languages by some notable politicians in the country in clear breach of the Abuja peace accord does not guarantee a peaceful election. He said that “it appears that Nigerians are not ready for the election but rather war”.
It called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to provide adequate security for Nigerians to collect their PVCs in order to exercise their civic duties.
Dr. Sam Eke, presidential candidate of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP) explained that shifting the elections with one or two months will calm frayed nerves as the tension is high with exodus of Nigerians for fear of a possible outbreak of violence, especially in the north. He said it will afford INEC the opportunity of accommodating the internally displaced person (IDPs).
Meanwhile, Jega has consistently rebuffed such calls maintaining that elections will hold as scheduled, assuring Nigerians that the commission is capable of overcoming the logistics problems encountered in the distribution of permanent voter cards and the procurement of card readers.
During a press conference in Abuja, Jega said that about 65 million PVCs have been collected, leaving about 3.5 million uncollected.
In its bid to correct the lapses and beat the deadline for the collection of the cards, INEC announced an extension of the exercise to enable more Nigerians collect them before February 14th.
Even as Jega made this assurance and clarification, there are still more the calls for the postponement, thus casting doubts and confusion in the minds of Nigerians about whether the elections will be held as planned.
Leadership findings indicate that INEC which has stuck to its earlier position of not shifting the date of the election appears to be a a crossroad as the pressure continues to mount on her by certain forces to bow to pressure and postpone the election. Concern are being raised by political pundits of the consequences of postponing the elections INEC was said to have prepared for in the last four years.
Whether INEC will succumb to these calls of postponement lies in the days ahead.
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