My hands are tied, says Jega
INEC chairman summons parties, tables four issues
Jega’s fate hangs in the balance, may be forced to proceed on terminal leave preparatory to June 13 exit date
The Federal Government is unrelenting in its bid to have this month’s elections shifted,regardless of popular opposition to the move.
It now wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the elections by six weeks ostensibly for security reasons.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who admitted that his hands are tied because security for the polls is outside his control, has invited chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to a meeting today.
The meeting is expected to consider four key issues and decide whether to go ahead with the polls or not.
There were strong indications last night that Jega and his team were under pressure to extend the polls willy-nilly.
The commission is undecided yet whether to yield to the six-week extension or opt for a three/four-week postponement.
Sources said last night that the Federal Government’s latest ploy was to blackmail INEC do its bidding by withholding security for the commission and its field officers.
Investigation by The Nation in Abuja showed that the federal government’s demand for the six-week extension was contained in the presentation made to the Council of State by Jega on Thursday at its session at the Presidential Villa.
Although Jega,at the Council of State’s meeting confirmed the readiness of INEC for the polls, he said he could not ignore the alarm raised by security agencies.
Jega said: “Yesterday(Wednesday), for example, we received a letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser(NSA), informing us of recent developments in four(4) of the North-East state, stating that safety and security cannot be guaranteed during the proposed election period, adducing reasons why this is so, and strongly advising that INEC considers rescheduling the elections by at least six(6) weeks, within the provisions of the electoral legal framework, and within which time span it is hoped to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to hold.
“This is a new development that INEC cannot certainly ignore or take lightly.”
Notwithstanding, Jega (as exclusively reported by THE NATION on Friday) insisted that INEC was prepared for the 2015 general election more than the case in 2011.
“He added: “From the preceding review of the state of preparedness of INEC, in respect of matters under its control, it is clear that in spite of the discernible challenges, things are not as bad as they have been made to appear in recent media coverage and public discourses. We are doing our best under very difficult circumstances.
“In determining whether or not INEC is adequately prepared to conduct the February 2015 elections as scheduled, we should separate what is under the control of the commission and what is outside its control.
“For the things under the commission’s control, our accomplishments are to such a degree that we can conduct the election, in spite of identifiable challenges.
“Compared with the 2011 general elections, for instance, our systems are definitely more robust now.
“Among others, we have greatly improved register of voters, having removed over 4million multiple registrants; voters will use PVCs; and accreditation using Card Readers will reduce the likelihood of fraud.
“Consequently, although our state of preparedness may not be 100 % or perfect, and although a bit more time of additional preparation would enable us improve and perfect the current level of preparedness, we believe that we’re ready for the elections as planned.”
But Jega added a caveat that INEC had no choice than to appreciate certain developments beyond its control.
He said: “However, we also believe that it is necessary to take into context the things outside the control of the Commission, such as: the attitude of politicians, political parties, candidates and voters; and significantly, security for election personnel, materials and voters, especially in areas under insurgency, which only the appropriate authorities can definitely speak on.
“No matter the extent of our readiness, if there are serious security concerns, the successful conduct of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections would be greatly jeopardized. INEC has been working with these authorities, especially under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) but our concerns have not been assuaged.
“I am sure that this august body will also be apprised of the security situation for the elections by the responsible authorities.”
The INEC chairman also gave an insight into the preparation for the election, including the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, procurement of ballot papers and other non-sensitive materials.
He said: "We have had to procure additional ballot boxes for the 2015 general elections. We have planned to use three separate ballot boxes for February 14 elections, one each for the presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections; and two ballot boxes on February 28, one each for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections. Virtually all these have been delivered to the States, who are busy distributing them to INEC LGA offices.
"We have also, since the middle of December 2014, finalized arrangements for the production of ballot papers and result sheets. Indeed, deliveries of these have commenced on schedule and the deadline for deliveries of all the sensitive materials is February 10 (for the last batch of elections scheduled for February 28).”
He also said since 65 per cent of the PVCs had been collected, Nigerians can go to poll.
Jega said: “As at February 3, 2015, out of the 66,323,850 Permanent Voters Cards already taken to the states for distribution, a total of 45,098,876 or 65.81% of the total have been collected by voters. Thus, about 34% of the PVCs are yet to be collected.
“Our initial methodology for distribution of PVCs, given budgeting constraints, was to distribute PVCs at the polling unit level, where registration took place, for three days at the end of which the remaining PVCs were taken to INEC LGA offices from where voters, who could not collect, would be able to collect them until January 31, 2015.
“Evidently, many voters did not, or could not, collect at the INEC LGA offices.
“There are a couple of key questions to address: first, should INEC not conduct elections until every registered voter has collected his/her card? It is virtually impossible for every registered voter to collect his card (ill-health, travel, apathy, indolence, death, etc)
“Second what rate or percentage of collection is acceptable for an election to take place? (51%, 75%; 90+ %). In this case, whatever percentage is agreed upon, it would imply that a date for the election could not be fixed until it is attained.
“Our assumption is that, since in the recent verifiable electoral history of our country, voter turnout in any election has never come close to 65%, PVC collection rate of this irreducible minimum percentage point would or should be acceptable for the conduct of elections. More so because by the scheduled first date of the 2015 general elections, i.e. February 14, the rate of PVC collection would have by far exceeded this. In any case, the commission would appreciate advice on this matter.”
On the use of Temporary Voter Cards, Jega explained why it is difficult for the nation to revert to the method.
Jega added: “There have been demands that the Commission should revert to the use of Temporary Voters Cards (TVCs) issued during the 2011 registration and the subsequent Continuous Voters Registration (CVR). The TVCs have no chips and therefore cannot be verified/authenticated by the CRs.
“Also, there are more than four million cases of multiple registration; people with TVCs, who have been removed from the certified Register of Voters for the 2015 elections. “Once the use of TVCs is allowed, many of these would inundate polling units on Election Day; their names will not be in the register, and they would start agitation that they have been 'disenfranchised', as was the case during the Anambra State Governorship election in November 2013.
“In any case people who collected PVCs no longer have TVCs because they used them to exchange for PVCs. Additionally, a high percentage of voters had to use the attestation forms provided to collect their PVCs due to loss of TVCs on account of floods, insurgency, etc.
It was also gathered last night than today’s meeting between INEC and the parties will likely focus on four issues:
Should the poll timeline be extended by six or three/four weeksIt now wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the elections by six weeks ostensibly for security reasons.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who admitted that his hands are tied because security for the polls is outside his control, has invited chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to a meeting today.
The meeting is expected to consider four key issues and decide whether to go ahead with the polls or not.
There were strong indications last night that Jega and his team were under pressure to extend the polls willy-nilly.
The commission is undecided yet whether to yield to the six-week extension or opt for a three/four-week postponement.
Sources said last night that the Federal Government’s latest ploy was to blackmail INEC do its bidding by withholding security for the commission and its field officers.
Investigation by The Nation in Abuja showed that the federal government’s demand for the six-week extension was contained in the presentation made to the Council of State by Jega on Thursday at its session at the Presidential Villa.
Although Jega,at the Council of State’s meeting confirmed the readiness of INEC for the polls, he said he could not ignore the alarm raised by security agencies.
Jega said: “Yesterday(Wednesday), for example, we received a letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser(NSA), informing us of recent developments in four(4) of the North-East state, stating that safety and security cannot be guaranteed during the proposed election period, adducing reasons why this is so, and strongly advising that INEC considers rescheduling the elections by at least six(6) weeks, within the provisions of the electoral legal framework, and within which time span it is hoped to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to hold.
“This is a new development that INEC cannot certainly ignore or take lightly.”
Notwithstanding, Jega (as exclusively reported by THE NATION on Friday) insisted that INEC was prepared for the 2015 general election more than the case in 2011.
“He added: “From the preceding review of the state of preparedness of INEC, in respect of matters under its control, it is clear that in spite of the discernible challenges, things are not as bad as they have been made to appear in recent media coverage and public discourses. We are doing our best under very difficult circumstances.
“In determining whether or not INEC is adequately prepared to conduct the February 2015 elections as scheduled, we should separate what is under the control of the commission and what is outside its control.
“For the things under the commission’s control, our accomplishments are to such a degree that we can conduct the election, in spite of identifiable challenges.
“Compared with the 2011 general elections, for instance, our systems are definitely more robust now.
“Among others, we have greatly improved register of voters, having removed over 4million multiple registrants; voters will use PVCs; and accreditation using Card Readers will reduce the likelihood of fraud.
“Consequently, although our state of preparedness may not be 100 % or perfect, and although a bit more time of additional preparation would enable us improve and perfect the current level of preparedness, we believe that we’re ready for the elections as planned.”
But Jega added a caveat that INEC had no choice than to appreciate certain developments beyond its control.
He said: “However, we also believe that it is necessary to take into context the things outside the control of the Commission, such as: the attitude of politicians, political parties, candidates and voters; and significantly, security for election personnel, materials and voters, especially in areas under insurgency, which only the appropriate authorities can definitely speak on.
“No matter the extent of our readiness, if there are serious security concerns, the successful conduct of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections would be greatly jeopardized. INEC has been working with these authorities, especially under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) but our concerns have not been assuaged.
“I am sure that this august body will also be apprised of the security situation for the elections by the responsible authorities.”
The INEC chairman also gave an insight into the preparation for the election, including the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, procurement of ballot papers and other non-sensitive materials.
He said: "We have had to procure additional ballot boxes for the 2015 general elections. We have planned to use three separate ballot boxes for February 14 elections, one each for the presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections; and two ballot boxes on February 28, one each for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections. Virtually all these have been delivered to the States, who are busy distributing them to INEC LGA offices.
"We have also, since the middle of December 2014, finalized arrangements for the production of ballot papers and result sheets. Indeed, deliveries of these have commenced on schedule and the deadline for deliveries of all the sensitive materials is February 10 (for the last batch of elections scheduled for February 28).”
He also said since 65 per cent of the PVCs had been collected, Nigerians can go to poll.
Jega said: “As at February 3, 2015, out of the 66,323,850 Permanent Voters Cards already taken to the states for distribution, a total of 45,098,876 or 65.81% of the total have been collected by voters. Thus, about 34% of the PVCs are yet to be collected.
“Our initial methodology for distribution of PVCs, given budgeting constraints, was to distribute PVCs at the polling unit level, where registration took place, for three days at the end of which the remaining PVCs were taken to INEC LGA offices from where voters, who could not collect, would be able to collect them until January 31, 2015.
“Evidently, many voters did not, or could not, collect at the INEC LGA offices.
“There are a couple of key questions to address: first, should INEC not conduct elections until every registered voter has collected his/her card? It is virtually impossible for every registered voter to collect his card (ill-health, travel, apathy, indolence, death, etc)
“Second what rate or percentage of collection is acceptable for an election to take place? (51%, 75%; 90+ %). In this case, whatever percentage is agreed upon, it would imply that a date for the election could not be fixed until it is attained.
“Our assumption is that, since in the recent verifiable electoral history of our country, voter turnout in any election has never come close to 65%, PVC collection rate of this irreducible minimum percentage point would or should be acceptable for the conduct of elections. More so because by the scheduled first date of the 2015 general elections, i.e. February 14, the rate of PVC collection would have by far exceeded this. In any case, the commission would appreciate advice on this matter.”
On the use of Temporary Voter Cards, Jega explained why it is difficult for the nation to revert to the method.
Jega added: “There have been demands that the Commission should revert to the use of Temporary Voters Cards (TVCs) issued during the 2011 registration and the subsequent Continuous Voters Registration (CVR). The TVCs have no chips and therefore cannot be verified/authenticated by the CRs.
“Also, there are more than four million cases of multiple registration; people with TVCs, who have been removed from the certified Register of Voters for the 2015 elections. “Once the use of TVCs is allowed, many of these would inundate polling units on Election Day; their names will not be in the register, and they would start agitation that they have been 'disenfranchised', as was the case during the Anambra State Governorship election in November 2013.
“In any case people who collected PVCs no longer have TVCs because they used them to exchange for PVCs. Additionally, a high percentage of voters had to use the attestation forms provided to collect their PVCs due to loss of TVCs on account of floods, insurgency, etc.
It was also gathered last night than today’s meeting between INEC and the parties will likely focus on four issues:
What rate of percentage is acceptable to conduct the election(51%,75% and 90+%
To use PVCs or TVCs
Security threats
An INEC national commissioner said: “We are closer to postponement because Jega and his team’s hands are already tied. We cannot go ahead with the general election without security.
“When we had full security complement in 2011, more than 11 corps members were killed. If we go ahead with the poll, who will protect the ballot process in a nation prone to political violence.
“We have been boxed into a corner because all the service chiefs said they cannot provide security for the general election based on certain indices at their disposal.”
Investigation however revealed that the poll shift may be Jega’s undoing as some hawks have plotted a Plan B to force him to proceed on terminal leave from March in preparation for his exit on June 13.
A highly-placed source said: “Once INEC yields to a six-week poll shift, Jega may be on his way out because by March, he is expected to proceed on terminal leave preparatory to his exit as the commission’s chairman on June 13.
“So, you can see that INEC is really in a cul-de-sac. Either way, the forces against INEC are overwhelming.”
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “We will attend the meeting convened by INEC but we have our fears and suspicions because everything seems to have been primed.”
Only last Thursday the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly led by Chief Edwin Clark called for the resignation and arrest of Prof.Jega for allegedly conniving with Northern leaders to rig Jonathan out during the February polls.
Clark with whom were DR.Walter Ofonagoro,Dr.Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Dr.Femi Okurounmu also demanded the postponement of the elections.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday responded to the Clark group’s position describing it as one of the new antics of the election postponement campaigners.
''Who does not know that wherever President Goodluck Jonathan's interest lies, therein you will find Chief Edwin Clark, whether or not it is in the national interest? Who does not know that the anarchic call by Chief Clark and his cohorts are being made at the behest of a frenzied presidency?'' the APC said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary,Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
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