Jega stated this on Wednesday, February 18, while appearing before the Senate to explain INEC’s readiness to conduct the polls.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega has said that he can’t guarantee the conduct of the general elections on March 28 and April 11.
Jega stated this on Wednesday, February 18, while appearing before the Senate to explain INEC’s readiness to conduct the polls.
The INEC chairman added that only the military could determine if the elections would hold on the scheduled dates.
When asked to give a clear assurance on the dates, Jega said:
“I
think it is a very difficult question to answer. I have said
consistently that there are things under the control of electoral
commission and there are things that are not under the control of
electoral commission. For things that are under our control, I can give
definite and categorical assurances.”
“On
what is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless and
useless to give a definite guarantee on them. I think that question
should be directed appropriately. The questions of security, I will
leave it, I don’t think I am competent to answer it sufficiently,” he added.
Jega however stated that any further demand for postponement of the polls would be unconstitutional.
“Every
Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a constitutional time
frame. The security agencies are (made up of) patriotic Nigerians.
Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. We should be fair also to the
military. Soldiers are also patriotic Nigerians. 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. For us, we work by
the constitution, by the law. That is what is guiding us and we should
all put the interest of the nation at heart,” Jega said.
“I
kept saying consistently that INEC is not a security organisation. We
are an election management body; so we rely a lot on security to be able
to ensure that things are done well and that there is no disruption of
the electoral process. We have been working very closely with the inter
agencies consultative committee on election security and that is why for
us, if the service chiefs say that we can’t guarantee security, give us
more time, what is the alternative security arrangements?” he continued.
The
INEC chairman also added that the commission has a duty to protect its
staff and as such can’t proceed with the polls without adequate
security.
“If we consulted with the
stakeholders and we cannot find an answer, what happens? We are going to
use close to 700, 000 ad hoc staff. We can’t send people to the field
in that kind of a situation. Our prayer is that in the next six weeks,
there will be significant improvement in the security situation for us
to hold the elections all over this country in a very secure
environment,” he said.
“There are certain
questions that we are not really competent to answer. Certain questions
should be directed to the military; they can answer them better,” he added.
Jega announced the postponement of the elections on Saturday, February 7, citing security concerns.
