http://www.tribune.com.ng/16012007/news/news1.html

Elections may be shifted to August

Bola Badmus, Abuja - 9.01.2007

INDICATIONS have emerged that the National Assembly may consider shifting the general election from April to August. Lawmakers who were at the National Assembly on Monday were seen in groups discussing the possibility of the planned postponement.

A few of them who were against the plan vowed that it would never happen, though they expressed apprehension that those behind it might want to push it at all costs. When asked the reason for the planned postponement, the lawmakers said those behind it would likely point to some developments in the country.

A member from South-East who did not want his name in print said that there were moves to shift the election to August, which he noted had slowed down his campaign for a higher political office.

He later met briefly with another member from Jigawa State who equally confirmed that moves were being made to ensure that the elections were shifted. “Yes, we are yet to confirm, but we hear that they want to shift the election to August so that the swearing in date would now be October 1st. In any case, we shall resist it because it implies that we have to amend the constitution,” the representative from Jigawa State said.

The ongoing voters’ registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was cited as one of the reasons that would be used to defend the postponement, while the National Assembly would be convinced to amend the constitution so as to accommodate the new date of swearing in of a new president.

Apart from the voters’ registration, members feared that some loopholes already detected in the 2006 Electoral Act could be exploited to justify why the elections could not be held as scheduled.

But Honourable Bashir Idris Nadabo, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) member from Dandume/ Funtua federal constituency in Katsina State, ruled out the possibility of shifting the election forward, vowing that any attempt to do so would be resisted in the House.

According to him, the issue of voters’ registration had been carefully handled by the National Assembly with the amendment of the 2006 Electoral Act to give more days to INEC to register every eligible voter.

“As far as I am concerned, I don’t think Obasanjo will be able to scuttle the proposed elections in April because this will damage his image in the international community. Whatever they are going to do, I think they will do to make sure that the elections are held.

Efforts to contact the principal officers of the National Assembly yesterday proved abortive as it was gathered that they might be having a meeting over the issue.

Discuss!. . .OBJ and his cronies are at again!

lets wait and see it seems the 3rd term plot is still on, we are patiently waiting

*Yawn*

civil war II is looming

Can someone answer this question without sentiments or bias?

If INEC is unable to conclude the voters registration excercise and we still have Nigerians that are eligible to vote that are not yet registered, would it be better to shift the election to allow for more time to get eligible voters registered or do we just carryon with the election regardless of the problems with the current registration excercise just to make sure that a new government comes in come May 29 2007?

Can we focus on real susbstance in what we do in Nigeria and avoid being teleguided by the media or politicians?

Can't we discuss issues without suspicions, bad blood or hate?

@ Afam

Can someone answer this question without sentiments or bias?

Hmmm, did we just notice this? Clearly we've seen this coming as a nation and there has been a lot of commentaries on the plot to extend the election date. For Christ sake, was INEC expecting a big-bang election registration process? Where is the efforts put into planning?? Who should we blame for this The question I would ask is will the INEC folks ever be ready?

If this administration is truly ready to hand-over power, then they should be chewing somebody's rear end publicly!

if the registration would be an excused for shifting or elongating baba iyabo regime i will suggest people in the senate should take below step.
By that may 29, baba should quit the office and allow intervention of interim president pending the time election shall be fully conducted and hand over to elected govt. this is to make sure that he (Baba iyabo) does not forced himself on the whole nation by elongating his regime as people will obviosly perceived it.
I believe the man will easily leave as he promised, baba is shameful and he wouldn't want himself to be disgraced out of office. will should also remember that he's no more a military and he realized that as well. therefore, people should stop rubbishing him is a man of honour and he has promissed us that by God grace he will go back to his farm . so any sadist that enjoyed profligacy should stop spreading what baba did not said.

@egbon,

I agree that INEC boss should have been fired for overseeing a wasteful and inefficient registration excercise.

If done properly, up to 50 million Nigerians can be registered in a month but when they engage in things/technology they know very little about what do you expect?

@jas_o

I also agree that Baba should leave and hand over to an interim government is we really need time to get the election done properly.

Afam:

Can someone answer this question without sentiments or bias?

If INEC is unable to conclude the voters registration excercise and we still have Nigerians that are eligible to vote that are not yet registered, would it be better to shift the election to allow for more time to get eligible voters registered or do we just carryon with the election regardless of the problems with the current registration excercise just to make sure that a new government comes in come May 29 2007?

Can we focus on real susbstance in what we do in Nigeria and avoid being teleguided by the media or politicians?

Can't we discuss issues without suspicions, bad blood or hate?

If INEC is unable to finsh preparation for the election, the election can not hold, what are you going to use for the election. It is when INEC is prepared that they election can be held. There is no two ways about it. There is constitutional provision for conducting of election, and as it is going now, INEC will not meet up. So holding election or handing over by may 29 is not practicable. unless as usual OBJ will disobey the consitution, but as it favours him this time around I bet you he will not.

OBSERVATION:

You should know that opposition has been saying that OBJ will use INEC to prolong his stay in office and it is now staring all of us in the face. After all it is INEC that is not ready, not OBJ. OBJ will tell you that he is ready to leave office by may 29 but he will not do anything to undermine the constitution he swore to uphold, which mean that if the national assembly should pass law to extend his regime he will obey it.

OBJ and his group has been frustrating INEC from doing there job.
Remember that INEC cheque bounced which is a financial crime. I know that if it Adenuga that gave that cheque he should be in EFCC net by now.
INEC were underfunded.
Money were not release to INEC on time.

SUGGESTION

The election should be shifted not more than one year.
Interim natinal government [ING]should be formed
The government should be headed by a former Chief Justice of the Federation
The ING should organise a national conference before the election

@Afam

You're looking at the issue under the wrong microscope. People have predicted this since last year and now it's happening, you can't help but feel that this is nothing but tenure elongation. We understand the concern about INEC's registration but why didn't INEC carry out its duties efficiently in the first place?

Or cancelled altogether,

If there are only 1million voters registered that lot should vote. We need transition come May 29.

First, people INEC has registered 40 million voters so far.

Second, the report appeared only in the Tribune, whose reporting ability I have come to doubt lately.

And, third, the House of Assembly has no legislative power to postpone elections.

McKren:

If there are only 1million voters registered that lot should vote. We need transition come May 29.

supported. this will ensure that future presidents are fully aware that anyhow anyhow when time comes they must leave. otherwise some of them can always cook up reasons for such eventualities.

demmy:

And, third, the House of Assembly has no legislative power to postpone elections.

nobody should have the power to postpone elections. except when the country is in a war. i.e the war is in our land. not just having our soldiers in another country

The issue of postponement of the election is more or less the Business of INEC and not that of the National Assembly. The duty of the National Assembly here should be to encourage and probably empower the INEC with supports services to ensure the success of the transition programme.

I believe by now every Nigerian should be vested with INEC time table for the conduct of the election.

Politicians in the National Assembly should stop creating confusion but should work with INEC to ensure that the transition program do not exceed it date.

Now people will start pointing fingers on Uncle Shege. But we should not forget that even though Obj is the President the issue of election has an Independent body that is working independently for its success and it is been headed by a Prof.

Already the Voters Registration is in Progress as programmed and will end by february 14 through out the country, many Nigerian are rushing now to register so that their salaries will not be with held.

I want to say that we all have to be law abiding towards this transition program.

Nigerians are currently perfecting the art of creating issues from no where and really i think its because of idleness.

Election to be postpone? That’s fine by me if only OBJ will leave by 29 May 2007 so that d N/assembly will install a neutral body (interim Govt.) to conduct election when its deemed fit.
That will even prevent Obj from rigging d election for his anointed candidate.

BUT it will not be acceptable for him to remain in office while election is postponed.

I want to see him go to Otta or any other place suitable for him, let him just GO

if the election originally meant to hold by april, latter turns to march; that shows that we have not attained any level of confidence in politics and in INEC practises.

Ahmedisah, i feel your communique. we are not saying the election shouldn't be postponed so far it will accommodate a reliable regime not the incumbent that would  apply there inefficiency which could lead the whole nation to commotion.
this is onething about our people the issue of third term was first initiated by sadist and here we are again. baba has agreed to leave but people have started raising election postponement. it seem we have not learned and I'm sure those sadists are the  one agitating for the contrary of constitutional state.

How can you conduct an election, without register voter. If INEC is not ready, Then we wait, period, If we could not conduct just a mere census with Makawa fraud, how sure of you of an election, Do you want them to rigged that again? it is better to wait than get a rigged election, If Baba Iyabo remain there till oct 1 should not make a different it is getting non rigged election,  It better to have a unrigged election that rush the thing and hand over to a stupid person that would destroy our lifes.

OBJ can't leave until the results of the elections are out, in fact, he has to hand over to a democratically elected president and not an interim government, so if the elections are postponed till after the 2010 world cup, he'll remain in the office for as long as that.

Una never halla reach

Carry on Uncle Sege

interim government what no way Baba Iyabo would remain president, if INEC can not conduct the election in time, the constitution is clear about that.

Baba actually should continue. is Mubarak holding any election in Egypt?

In 8yrs, Baba has turned Nigeria around. Another 8yrs, Nigerian would be like Dubai. Carry Go!

Dubai or Accra?

Lmao @Christino, do our people ever open their eyes to the truth?

I beg let me pass, I no wan get headache over elections that has been decided before we even vote .  If they like let them postpone it till kingdom come or even, when OBJ is leaving, let him put his son or daughter there, that is his business but one day sha, sanity will return to this country.  Let them continue to play this country around like a chess or casino wheels, e no go better for all of them

Although there is no smoke without fire, I don't think we should concern ourselves with these issues now. This kind of propaganda (which is what this is) is only meant to sample public opinion and if anyone should respond to it must let ALL know that we will be vehemently resisted.

I heard and read of it in the dailies, but it is my prayer that it won't be postponed as speculated. Anyway let's wait and see what happens.

Thank God i'm not registering/voting, i'll support you all with my prayers, hope the elections'll be peaceful and you won't vote at gunpoint

God forbid

@ Kit,

Can u imagine, I was at Ijora Oloye yesterday for a friend's Islamic Wedding and I saw a registeration centre somewhere around only to get there and be told I have to vote in my LGA of residence. I just thanked the guy and walked away. Person wey wan commit suicide wey una come give rat poison as xmas gift.

I ain't voting - no matter the threat. I understand they've started threatening people who do not register, na so dem do the last time, my voter's card still dey kampe!