2015 Elections Postponed for Six Weeks

In spite of the controversy, the federal government has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2015 general elections by six weeks because of security threats, the Nation reports.

Prof Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the INEC,  who admitted that his hands are tied because security for the poll is outside his control, has invited  allchairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties and Resident Electoral Commissioners for a meeting today.

The meeting is expected to consider four key issues and finally decide whether to go ahead with the poll or not.

There were strong indications last night that Jega and his team were under pressure to shift the elections. The commissioners were being threatened to either postpone the polls or be ready to quit at the expiration of their tenure in June this year.

According to a dependable source all but two commissioners are due for reappointment in June.

But the INEC was undecided on whether to stand its ground that the polls should be held as scheduled, yield to the six-week extension or opt for a three or four-week postponement.

It was evident last night that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government will not provide security for the INEC and its field officers unless the poll is postponed.

Reports said that the government’s demand for a 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.

In the 12-page presentation, “Preparations for the 2015 General Elections Progress Report,” made available to a correspondent of the Nation by a member of the Council, Jega confirmed the readiness of the INEC for the poll, but 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 states, 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 hoped to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to hold.