The commission projects to spend $7.9 (about
N1,264) per voter for a total of 73.5 million
voters.
The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) said on Monday in Abuja that it would not
be able to conduct the 2015 general elections in
states under the state of emergency rule.
The commission’s Chairman, Attahiru Jega,
disclosed this at a stakeholders’ forum on the
preparation and challenges ahead of the 2015
general elections, organised by the Senate
Committee on INEC.
Mr. Jega said that the decision by the commission
was to avoid contravening the law.
The Federal Government had in November
extended the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa states by six months. The emergency
rule was initially imposed on those states by
President Goodluck Jonathan due to the violence
by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr. Jega, however, said that the commission was
hopeful that the security situation in the affected
states would improve before the 2015 general
elections.
“We are working very closely with security
agencies and our hope is that the security
challenges in these areas will be long addressed
before the 2015 elections.
“We hope that these challenges will be solved or
dramatically reduced before 2015. What is clear
is that, we cannot conduct elections under a
period of emergency.
“If there is generalised insecurity, how can we
hold elections? .It will be disrupted or people
will not come out. Ideally, elections should not
hold under a period of emergency,” he said.
Mr. Jega said security was a systemic challenge,
but stressed that the commission was working
hand in hand with security agencies to ensure
adequate security in 2015.
He, however, assured that preparations for the
2015 general elections were on top gear, adding
that the commission would need about N92.9
billion to conduct the elections.
He said the commission projected to spend $7.9
(about N1,264) per voter for a total of 73.5
million voters.
He said that the projection represented a
reduction of $1 (N160) as against the $8.8
(N1,478) that was projected in 2011, representing
10 per cent drop.
Mr. Jega said the commission was anxious to
meet its funding requirements ahead of the
elections, adding that it was also looking at the
possibility of holding the elections between
January and February, 2015 to allow for time to
resolve all litigations.
The INEC boss said that the commission had so
far prosecuted 200 electoral offenders.
“If you compare 200 successful prosecutions with
the large number of electoral offenders, it is just
a drop in the ocean.
“INEC does not have the capacity to handle a
large number. We have been working with the
NBA to get accelerated persecution of electoral
offenders.
“We hope to persecute more before the 2015
elections. The largest number of offenders we
have is with regards to multiple registrations,” he
said.
Mary Dan-Abia, a Director with the National
Youth Service Corps (NYSC), however, stressed
the need for adequate protection for corps
members who would be engaged by the
commission for the elections.
“Corps members are only ad hoc; they are not
INEC staff; but since this is a national assignment,
they are usually very enthusiastic about the job.
“However, politicians, INEC staff and members of
the public tend to be antagonistic toward them to
the point that they are abducted on their way to
the polling unit and assaulted.
“We wish that everybody should be aware that
they are doing a national assignment and so
should not be looked at as enemies,” she said.
Ms. Dan-Abia appealed to security agencies to
ensure adequate security protection for the corps
members before, during and after election.
The Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA), Victor Umeh, advocated that N25 billion
be appropriated to the 25 remaining political
parties to encourage more serious parties to
perform better.
Mr. Umeh described the allegations that APGA
was given N8 billion by the presidency for the
November 16, Anambra governorship polls as
baseless and unfounded, adding that there was
no iota of truth in it.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Andy Ubah
(PDP-Anambra), said that it was important to
address any lapses that might be observed, to
strengthen the election management body for
optimal performance in 2015.
“The 2015 general elections will be an important
election for Nigeria, the sub-region and the rest
of the international community.
“The burden of delivering on successful elections
lay squarely on our shoulders,” Mr. Ubah said.
(NAN)

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