Jega Refuses to Guarantee Elections Date, Says Service Chiefs Know Better

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday declined to make an assertive declaration that the 2015 general election scheduled for March 8 and April 11 won't be postponed again.

The INEC boss, who appeared before the Senate to explain why the elections initially slated for February 14 and 28 were postponed as well as the level of preparedness of the commission for the use of card readers during the elections, said the security forces would be in a better position to answer the question on whether the elections would hold as re-scheduled or not.

According to him, he could only give assurance on issues under his jurisdiction, submitting that the provision of security for the elections was not INEC’s responsibility and hence giving assurance to the public on issues that are not under his control was a futile effort.

“Senator Akume asked if I can confirm the sanctity of the dates of the elections: March 28 and April 11. I think it is a very difficult question to answer.
“I have said consistently that there are things under the control of an electoral commission and there are things that are not under the control of an electoral
commission.

“For the things that are under our control, we can give definite and categorical assurances. What is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless, it is useless to give a definite guarantee on them. So frankly, I think that question should be directed appropriately,” he said.

This response was in contrast with the submission he made earlier when he answered a similar question.

When he was asked if he would not succumb to further pressure from the military to postpone the elections a second time, Jega had told the Senate that there could be no further postponement because doing so would violate constitutional provisions.

He also said that the military should not be portrayed as a body of unpatriotic Nigerians, who would unduly seek postponements even when it runs foul of constitutional provisions.

“The questions of security, I will leave it. I don't think I am competent to answer it sufficiently but I must say that every Nigerian knows that we want elections to hold within the constitutional timeframe.

“We should be fair also to the military. Soldiers are also patriotic Nigerians. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt.

“I don't see how anybody will contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks. There is no constitutional grounds upon which you can do that.

“It will only have to be unconstitutional. I don't see how anybody will contemplate any unconstitutional means. For us, we work by the constitution, by the law and as far as we are concerned, that is what is guiding us and we should all put the interest of the nation at heart,” he said. (Thisdaylive)