No going back on presidential, other elections in Nigeria
…National Council of States reject shift in dates …INEC expresses readiness …Service chiefs raise concern on troubled states
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NIGERIA: ALL the elections scheduled for February in Nigeria will hold, the National Council of States (NCS) has said.
The body rejected all pleas and submissions made by security chiefs and governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) states to shift the election dates, the Gateway Mail gathered.
The council consists of all ex-heads of state and presidents, and the Wednesday meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the PDP in the February 14 presidential election.
National issues bordering on elections and security situations, particularly the Boko Haram insurgency were discussed, the Gateway Mail further learnt.
Jonathan’s challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former head of state Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was in attendance alongside Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan.
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a strong critic of Jonathan’s administration and his re-election bid shunned the meeting. Obasanjo had severally urged Jonathan not to seek re-election going by his promise to seek only one term, which the ex-president believed he reneged.
The council, however, concurred that polls could be shifted in some areas under the sporadic attacks of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, which has killed over 15,000 Nigerians.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who is a member of the APC, who addressed journalists stated that the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assured the leaders that it was fully prepared to hold the elections.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, informed them that the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) was going on according to plans.
The governor, however, also stated that the security chiefs at the meeting promised that all the armed forces were ready for the polls, but they, however, raised concern on the polls holding in the troubled areas under persistent attack by the Boko Haram militants.
Other members of the council, who attended the meeting, included ex-Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice M. Belgore, President of the Senate, Gen. David Mark, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who cross-carpeted from PDP to APC to seek the governorship seat of Sokoto State.
Other members at the parley included state governors – Adamawa, Niger, Lagos, Anambra, Kogi, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Kano, Osun, Plateau, Cross River, Imo, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Rivers, Enugu, Delta, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Edo, Ekiti, and Gombe states.
While the deputy governors of Abia, Oyo and Borno were in attendance, the acting governor of Taraba was present alongside FCT Minister Bala Muhammed, Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and the National Security Adviser to President, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Indeed, Jega and the security heads were given opportunities to make contributions on the possibility of holding or shifting the elections.
Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko also informed reporters that the egg-heads at the meeting urged Jega to take into account the myriad of issues expressed by the members, in order to ensure hitch-free elections.
The meeting which began at 11.56 a.m ended at 7pm, GatewayMail further learnt.
