By Ben Agande
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, reiterated its readiness for the forthcoming general elections even as strong pressures were brought on its National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega by contending forces at the National Council of State, NCS, to shift the polls by six weeks.
Jega, who, insisted on holding the election as scheduled was, however, countered by service chiefs present at the meeting who, according to sources, told him that they could not guarantee security for the election.
At the end of the meeting, the commission was told to go and conduct its responsibility within its legal framework. The commission is meeting tomorrow to review the developments, sources said.
However, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman told Vanguard, last night, that nothing new had come up.
All former heads of state with the notable exception of former President Olusegun Obasanjo were present at the meeting which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan. Those in attendance included Vice President Namadi Sambo, the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, governors, and two former chief justices of the country- Justice Dahiru Musdapher and Justice Alfa Belgore.
As the meeting got underway, Jega briefed the council on his readiness for the election and was said to have confidently asserted the readiness of the commission for the election.
He was, however, countered by the service chiefs who claimed that they could not provide security for the elections. The service chiefs were said to have volunteered that at least 17 local government areas in Borno State were still under the occupation of terrorists.
In support of polls as scheduled
All former heads of state with the exception of President Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan, who reportedly did not comment, were said to have advised that the elections should not be postponed.
President Ibrahim Babangida, it was gathered, warned that disrupting the elections would show a negative portrayal of the country and his point was echoed by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
While the PDP governors urged for a postponement, the APC governors strongly backed Jega on going ahead with the election.
A former Chief Justice of the Federation present, it was learned, also told the meeting that he had consulted all the other living former chief justices and that they were all unanimous that the elections should go on.
Call for polls shift
But those who called for postponement, notably incumbent political office holders from the PDP, were said to have raised issues with INEC’s plans. Among the issues raised were that 34% of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs had not been collected and the unreliability of the card readers. The PDP governors, it was learned, argued that the card readers being deployed for the election had never been tested before and that they feared that using them could lead to chaos. However, the major contention was that security could not be guaranteed and that point was pressed both by the service chiefs and the PDP governors.
As the arguments drew to an end with majority of the members urging that the commission should go ahead as scheduled, the president was said to have asked Jega to go and consult with his commissioners in the light of the discussions.
At this point, Gen. Abdulsalami was said to have insisted that a clear message should be given to Nigerians that the council was not divided on the issue and that the commission should be charged to go ahead with its statutory responsibility as it deemed fit.
At the end of the seven-hour meeting, Governors Rochas Okorocha, (Imo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa) were asked to brief the press on the outcome of the council meeting.
Official statement
Governor Mimiko who spoke first at the press conference stated: “Council of State in a meeting close to seven hours essentially discussed the state of preparedness of INEC. INEC
Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/ready-polls-inec/

If somehow, the already observed inefficiencies associated with jegas desperation to hand over the country to one empty buhari boomerangs and works in favour of a much maligned the PDP, I hope the louqacious opposition will accept the results in good faith.

If like let the election hold today is still goin to be GEJ. GEJ till 2019!!!

Am ready to VOTE.

temitemi1:
If like let the election hold today is still goin to be GEJ. GEJ till 2019!!!

Another plan don fail.

Another PDP plan gone bad. The 2 reasons given by the federal govt and their party members about shifting d election are not carried at all. Service chiefs claiming 17 LGAs are in d hand of boko haram in Bornu state is not true and if its true, is a disgrace to them. Also, PDP and their governors claiming that everybody have not collected their PVC is also wrong. because in 2011, less than 40 million Nigerians voted in that election and winner emerged. INEC right now said it has distributed close to 50 million PVCs so let those with their PVC vote and make decision for the rest. The truth is, the PDP want the election shifted by 6 weeks to enable prof. Jega commence 3 months compulsory leave which will lead to his retirement. Jega's tenure in office ends in June. GEJ wants Jega out because he no longer have trust in Jega.