Inec May Postpone Guber Polls in Violent Areas.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, may be contemplating the postponement of next week’s gubernatorial election in areas that were racked by violence following the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the election.


Opposition parties are, however, kicking against the proposal insisting that violence can not stop the governorship election.

Vanguard gathered that some INEC officials are of the opinion that in view of the precarious situation in some northern states where violence erupted, there may be need for postponement to give the electorate more time.
However, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu told Vanguard, yesterday, that “INEC has not issued a statement to that  effect,” adding that the rumour had no effect on operations of the commission.


INEC studying situation—Idowu
Idowu said: “As a responsible organisation, INEC is keenly studying the situation in those areas,” but did not provide further details.

Pressed further on whether the commission was considering the possibility of postponement, Idowu said: “The position is that INEC is keenly studying the position in those areas as any responsible organisation would do.”
Asked if the studying included the possibility of any postponement, Idowu refused to comment further saying the position of the commission was what he said.

Vanguard gathered that because of the precarious security situation in some of the states where violence had erupted, some members of the commission were in favour of a possible postponement till next Saturday.
Vanguard further learnt that following the security challenge posed by the violence and especially the targeting of members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who form the bulk of the ad hoc staff at the polling stations, the commission is of the view that a postponement would afford security agencies an opportunity to guarantee the security of the lives of NYSC members who sacrificed a lot to guarantee the success of the elections.
 
It will be recalled that following the declaration of President Jonathan as the winner of last Saturday’s election, violence erupted in many states of the north leading to the death of many Nigerians and the destruction of property of persons suspected to be sympathisers of the ruling PDP, including the residence of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

A meeting of the comm ission to decide whether to postpone the next election or not was said to be on going at the time of this report.
INEC had earlier postponed the governorship election from April 2 to 26 following the non-delivery of electoral materials by contractors hired by it.

Violence can’t stop governorship polls — opposition parties
Meanwhile, a coalition of 45 registered political parties said, yesterday, that post election violence in some parts of the country following the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the president-elect in last Saturday’s election will not stop the April 26 Gubernatorial elections in some states of the federation.
The coalition, however, expressed implicit confidence in the ability of INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega to take decisions that will be in the interest of the nation ahead of the elections, even as they charged the INEC boss to ensure that best available options were taken in deciding what to do with regard to next Tuesday’s election.

Wanton destruction of property
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, spokesperson for the coalition and the National Chairman of Allied Congress of Democrats, ACD, Yahaya Buba, condemned the mindless killings and wanton destruction of property in some northern states.

The coalition which adopted President Goodluck Jonathan for last Saturday’s presidential election, said the killings did not in any way represent the desires of the common man in the north who is yearning for positive development.

While appealing to presidential candidates of other parties to call their supporters to order and eschew violence, Buba said: “There are channels of expressing  grievances and we implore those aggrieved to resort to the tribunals instead of violence.

“Violence has never been a solution but rather would bring the country backward and deny the country of reaping the gains made in the last years of democracy. We urge Nigerians to remain calm and allow peace to reign as the task before us as a nation now is to transform Nigeria. This is not the time to encourage violence. We must give peace a chance and anybody aggrieved should toe the line of the law.”

Vanguard

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