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Fani-Kayode Accuses INEC Of Planning To Collude With APC

The PDP Presidential Campaign Organization has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, of planning to aid the All … Continue reading Fani-Kayode Accuses INEC Of Planning To Collude With APC


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Femi-Fani-Kayode-on_Fayose_PublicationThe PDP Presidential Campaign Organization has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, of planning to aid the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the 2015 general elections.

The Director of Media for the Campaign Organization, Femi Fani-Kayode, who was speaking in Abuja, alleged that the chairman is doing this through the manipulation of the Permanent Voters Cards.

The campaign office says there are pertinent questions that the INEC Chairman must answer if the party is to have confidence in him.

The INEC Chairman had postponed the 2015 general elections to March 28 and April 11 from the earlier scheduled February 14 and 28 citing security concerns.

The new schedule was announced by Prof. Jega, after meetings with political stakeholders in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

Professor Jega said that the Presidential Election would now hold on March 28 while the Governorship election would hold on April 11.

At a press briefing after the last meeting between Prof. Jega and other top officials of INEC, Prof. Jega said that the commission’s decision was not influenced by any group or individuals.

‘Concerned About Security’

According to him, the commission decided to take the advice of the security chiefs and adjust the dates of the elections in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“We have done this, relying on section 26 (1) of the Electoral Act, as amended.

“Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election and there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to conduct an election as a result of natural disaster or other emergencies, the commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area or areas concerned appoint another day for the holding of the postponed election provided that such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable.”

The chairman of the INEC pointed out that for the fact the commission was not a security agency that could guarantee protection of personnel, voters during elections and observers, the commission could not likely wave-off the advice by the nation’s security chiefs.

“The commission is concerned about the security of our ad-hoc staff, the young men and women of the NYSC and students of the tertiary education who constitute at least 600,000 young men and women that we will use in the election,” he said.

Professor Jega further said that the concern was not limited to the areas in the north-eastern part of the nation that has witnessed series of attacks by the members of a terrorist group, the Boko Haram but to the security of the commission’s officials and the observers.

“We believe that few election management bodies around the world will contemplate conducting elections under this circumstances,” he said, emphasising that “the prospect for free, fair and credible elections will not be guaranteed if the election was held as scheduled”.