Again, INEC postpones NASS polls in 48 federal constituencies, 15 senatorial districts
From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja
Friday, April 08, 2011


• Jega
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, again assured the nation of the readiness of his commission for tomorrow’s National Assembly election even as the problem of logistics appeared to be far from over.

As the INEC Chairman was reeling out arrangements made for the election, yesterday, sources as at the commission disclosed that logistics challenges being faced by the electoral agency were still very much on ground and that “all he was saying was a mere window dressing.”

Jega confirmed at a news briefing the exclusive report by Daily Sun that election would not hold in some senatorial districts and federal constituencies, disclosing that elections had been suspended in 15 out of the 109 senatorial districts and 48 out of the 360 federal constituencies spread across 27 states.

The election, Jega said, had been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 26 when the governorship and state Assemblies elections would be held. According to Jega, areas where election would not hold represented 86 per cent of the senatorial districts and 87 per cent of the federal constituencies, and that the election would not be held in those areas because the commission could not meet up with the printing of ballot papers to cover all the areas.

He stated that the commission met both local and foreign contractors on the possibility of having fresh ballot papers printed before Saturday and seeing the impracticability and the fact that the commission did not want to take chances, it decided to postpone the elections so that printers would have two weeks within which to supply the papers.

The INEC boss also admitted the logistics challenges being faced by the commission was far from being solved as he said the commission could only boast of 600 pick-up vans for all the 774 local government electoral officers. He explained that the commission had mobilised the state electoral commission to arrange for transportation for the movement of Electoral Officers and materials.
He regretted that governors did not comply with the directive of the commission that they should not bombard the polling units with their retinue of aides and securitymen warning that securitymen had been placed on alert to resist such conduct tomorrow.

On the defaulting contractors, Jega explained that the commission was already exploring judicial means of redress because there were clauses in the contractual terms governing the contract and the breach of the term should necessarily be taken up.

However, he stated that the commission was being very cautious because of the clauses and since the commission was still investigating the matter. Jega said that was the reason the commission would not disclose the identities of the vendors. “We are fine-tuning our judicial options to take appropriate step,” he said.

Jega said the commission was trying all it could to revive hopes and confidence of Nigerians following their disappointment at the sudden shift of the elections last Saturday. On his rumoured threat of resignation, Jega would neither confirm nor deny it, saying “no comment, it is not everything in the media that I have to react to.”

Jega pleaded with Nigerians for understanding saying “when the commission last Saturday, April 2, 2011, rescheduled the National Assembly elections, it stated very clearly that the elections will hold this Saturday, April 9, 2011. We are happy to say that the elections will go ahead this weekend as planned.

We, as a commission, fully appreciate the enormous sacrifices made by millions of Nigerian voters who turned out for the exercise on April 2. I urge you to also do the same this weekend. “Since the postponement, the commission has worked tirelessly to address the challenges observed in the conduct of the rescheduled elections. Thus, result sheets have not only been delivered to the country, but have been received by states and local government areas nationwide.

Similarly, other election materials needed at the State and Local Governments have been supplied. Logistic challenges have been addressed and we have had further consultations with political parties, security services and other stakeholders to address other challenges that emerged last Saturday. Consequently, all is now set for the National Assembly election to hold across the country on Saturday.

“However, some challenges emerging from the fact that voting took place in some areas in spite of the postponement require more time than we have had since last Saturday. For example, in some areas a good quantity of ballot papers had been used and it is not possible to reprint enough replacement ballot papers before the elections. Also, in a few constituencies, party names and logos were missing on ballot papers. While some of these resulted from human errors in compiling the names of qualified candidates and parties for the elections, others are related to sudden changes emanating from several judicial pronouncements on party nominations. These challenges dictate that fresh ballot papers be printed prior to conducting the elections.

“The commission has made strenuous efforts to get these ballot papers printed within the available time; but given the security requirements of the printing of ballot papers and the inability of domestic and international companies to deliver on time, it has become imperative that sufficient time be given for the printing of these ballot papers. Consequently, while elections will in general take place on Saturday, it has become inevitable to postpone elections in a few affected constituencies, that is 15 Senatorial Districts and 48 Federal Constituencies which are as follows: [See Attached]

“I should say that the postponed elections affect only about 14% of all Senatorial Districts and 13% of Federal Constituencies. This means that elections will take place this Saturday in 86% and 87% of Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies respectively. “Elections in these affected constituencies will now hold on Tuesday the 26th of April 2011 together with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“For purposes of clarity, it is not everywhere that voting took place last week that is affected by this rescheduling. In some areas, only very few ballots were used, which means that elections can go on unhindered in those places this Saturday. “I want to seize this opportunity to advise all voters to be orderly and peaceful during the elections. Those who choose to stay behind after voting must be orderly and non-violent. I appeal to political parties to implore their supporters to eschew violence. We are working closely with the security agencies to arrest political thugs and vigilantes. Also, underage voters will be arrested. I appeal to parents and community leaders not to allow their children to indulge in this illegal act.

“We also noticed last Saturday that some governors did not comply with the appeal to them not to move around with their security orderlies during the elections. Although we recognize that governors are chief executives of their states, I once more appeal to them to vote and return home in order to reduce political tensions during the elections. Security agencies will strictly enforce compliance with this directive.

“Let me once again thank Nigerians for their understanding and support for the commission in its efforts to deliver free, fair and credible elections. I urge you all to come out on Saturday, April 9, to exercise your right to vote,” Jega said.