By Clifford Ndujihe
Disturbed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC might not be ready to conduct elections in January, 2011, some politicians have urged the citizenry to be vigilant and resist any move to extend the tenure of the current administration.

Among those who spoke on the issue in a telephone chat with Vanguard are former presidential candidate and Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Alliance, DPA, Chief Olu Falae; former National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Chief Clement Ebri; and Chief Cliff Mbagwu, a management consultant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

The politicians hinged their vigilance call on fears that the commission might be unable to conduct credible elections within five months as stipulated by the new amendment to the 1999 Constitution. Mbagwu was specifically worried that the menace of kidnapping could scuttle the elections in the South East if unchecked.

Section 178 of the First Amendment to the 1999 Constitution provides that presidential and governorship election should be held between 120 to150 days or four to five months to the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent. In essence, the INEC must conduct the elections between December 29, 2010 and January 28, 2011.

Speaking on the matter, Falae said the INEC was not ready for the elections and urged the citizenry to resist any attempt to extend the tenure of the current regime.

“It is only INEC that knows how ready it is for the elections. But the way I see it, they are not ready and cannot be ready to conduct elections in January. So, I will urge all Nigerians to resist any attempt to extend the tenure of the current regime beyond May 28, 2011.

They should not be allowed to profit from their incompetence and failure to conduct elections. If they failed to conduct elections, by May 29, 2011, they should be out of power and a Government of National Unity, GNU should be set up to organise credible polls,” Falae canvassed.

Ebri spoke in like manner, saying: “I will not be comfortable with any decision to extend the tenure of the government because it will create instability. Anything that can be done to hold the election is acceptable to me.

If we are serious, we can hold elections within five months. If it means working day and night to give us result, let the INEC do so.”  For Mbagwu, the INEC could conduct the polls within 5 months if it wanted because the major hurdle was compilation of fresh voters’ register, which he contended, could be done.

However, he said Nigerians were not yet dealing with what could derail the polls, especially in the SouthEast – kidnapping! “Kidnapping in the South East might affect the polls because a lot of credible candidates might be afraid to go home to campaign.

The Federal Government should take a serious look at the South East, declare a state of emergency and ensure that some criminals in power did not make it impossible for credible candidates to campaign. If not, the next set of elected leaders will be worse than what we are having now,” he said.