The Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, yesterday, rebuffed entreaties
to postpone next month’s round of elections,
saying it was financially and mentally set for the
polls. The commission, nevertheless, affirmed that the
go-ahead for elections in the troubled Northeast
would be given by security agencies.
Also yesterday, the Inspector General of Police,
Sulieman Abba, vowed to deal with errant
politicians who heat up the polity through
negative utterances, saying he would show to
them that no one could be above the law.
The assertions at a workshop for the training of
security agencies ahead of the general elections
came as INEC said the conduct of election in the
troubled Northeast would be determined by the
counsel of security agencies.
Chairman, INEC Electoral Training Institute, Dr
Ishmaeal Igbani, who spoke on behalf of the
commission in giving the readiness of the
commission for the polls said the commission
was comfortable with the fund it has at its
disposal at the moment.
He said: “Anytime there is election in Nigeria,
there is always some form of tension. I have
been around for a while and I don’t think it is
something new. I don’t think people should be
afraid. But it is also essential that we get ready
just in case.”
Lagos pastor, Tunde Bakare had last Sunday
called for the postponement of the elections for
the purpose of allowing tension among political
gladiators to ebb.
According to him, “it is also very important that
we have peaceful elections, it is also important
that voters come out to vote without fear. It is
also important that the personnel who will work
for us and the environment itself is peaceful and
for it to be peaceful, it is important for the
security agencies to be alert and ensure that they
do what they are supposed to do.”
He said a minimum of 50 personnel were being
trained, adding: “We call this cascade training.
After this training of trainers who will now go to
their various security organisations to train others
and so forth which will go down the line in that
way. More will be trained in a more cheaper way.“
Elections in North-East
Speaking on the possibility of conducting
elections in the North-East, he said: “Our work in
the commission is to conduct elections; other
people have been given that assignment. They
are in a better position to answer that. But what I
can tell you is that once the coast is clear we will
hold elections.
On the alleged paucity of funds by the
commission to conduct elections, he said: “We
are comfortable with what we have. I am just
hearing of that for the first time. Nobody will
postpone election. Why will it be postponed?”
Commenting on the prospect of internally
displaced persons in the Northeast voting, he said
the INEC committee charged with finding a
solution to the issue had yet to submit its report.
Police warn politicians
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police,
speaking through the Commissioner of Police in
charge of Election Monitoring, Mohammed
Ghanzali, said the police, being the leading
security agency for all elections, will enforce the
rule of the law.
He said: “If you (political actors) commit any
offence, the agencies here will go back and
ensure they cascade what they have learnt here
today and you will be arrested and dealt with
accordingly. So the politicians must play by the
rules.”
Referring specifically to politicians planning to
cause trouble in the course of the elections, he
said: “The only thing is that we are going to deal
with anybody that thinks he is above the law. All
I am saying is that politicians should obey the
law.
“We are to make sure that we secure the area as
the leading agency for election. We have nothing
to say other than for them to obey the rules of
the law. If they don’t obey the rules of law, we
will deal with them in accordance with the law.”
Number of policemen to be deployed
On the number of policemen that would be
deployed for the 2015 elections, he said: “The
population of the area depends on the polling
units and the security agencies we have around.
The commissioner of police in the state will be
the one to deploy. He knows what is on the
ground.“
On partisanship
Responding to allegations that the police was
partisan, in favour of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, he said: “The police can
never be partisan, that is why we are here as the
lead agency to ensure that we secure the area. If
they want the police to be partisan, they would
not have been called to ensure the security of the
area.
“All those that are voting have the party they
want to vote for. So they have sympathy for the
parties they want to vote for. We are just there to
ensure there is law and order and that every
stakeholder plays by the rules "

source; www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/wont-postpone-feb-polls-inec/

Politics is not a do or die game. We all pray for peace. Nigeria shall know peace in Jesus name, Amen! God bless President GEJ.

g

You mean FeBuhari polls ?











GMB 4 PRESIDO!

Abeg, let it come and go Jor. The more the delay, the more the tension

Doing so will do no Good, let get the party started, GEJ tenure needs renewal, 2015-2019, cheers every one.

Good move by INEC, atleast all the propaganda, endorsement, mudslinging and character assassination everywhere will stop...

We get to have a little bit of rest over the tension of election..

fitzmayowa:
Good move by INEC, atleast all the propaganda, endorsement, mudslinging and character assassination everywhere will stop...

We get to have a little bit of rest over the tension of election..

No need postponing the election,the fowl has come home to roost.

GMB for president,election,or no election.

admins choi

They Mustn't

FeBuHARI 14 is the appointed day.

GMB All the Way..!!!