*As Akala, Ndoma Egba, Utomi, ASUU differ
*PDP postpones congress date

By Ben Agande, Dapo Akinrefon, Ola Ajayi, John Ighodaro & Tordue Salem

ABUJA—CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, will today meet chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties to work out the possibility of exploring legal means to extend the forthcoming compilation of Voters Registers as well as the 2011 elections.

This came just as reactions trailed the recent request for an extension of time by INEC to put together a credible voters’ register and conduct free and fair elections in the country next year.

Vanguard gathered in Abuja that the commission decided to meet with leaders of the political parties first before meeting with other stakeholders like the National Assembly, to seek the understanding of the political parties for a possible extension of the elections.

At the end of its retreat in Calabar, Sunday, INEC said it would meet with other stakeholders to explore a legal leeway for the postponement of the elections.

The commission said that “having examined its detailed action plan for the voter registration and elections, the Retreat noted that the time-line for the implementation of this plan is very tight. “Consequently, the commission shall endeavour to engage all the relevant stakeholders with a view to exploring all legal avenues for extension of time to enable the commission deliver on the aspirations of Nigerians for a credible voters register and free, fair and credible elections.”

Outcome of meeting with party leaders

It was gathered that the outcome of INEC’s meeting with leaders of the registered political parties would determine whether it would formally make a request for the postponement of both the compilation of voters register and the elections proper.

A staff of the commission told Vanguard: “The leadership of the commission is determined to ensure that the elections are conducted credibly and transparently. It is, however, constrained by time and it is only expressing the hope that if there is a possibility of a slight extension, that option should be explored. But if at the end of the day that is not possible, then we will go ahead with our preparations and the conduct of all the activities.

“We are aware that the options being sought by the commission would generate a lot of debate but we are only looking at the end result if we have more time at our disposal. What I can tell you categorically is that the chairman of the commission will not do anything that would affect the conduct of a credible election. He has given his words and he is providing the needed leadership to ensure that, that result is achieved.”

Akala, Utomi, Momodu, ASUU differ

Meantime, reactions have continued to trail INEC’s recent request for an extension of time to put together a credible voters’ register and also conduct a free and fair elections in 2011.
Senator Ndoma Egba, Professor Pat Utomi and Chief Dele Momodu expressed divergent views on the request.
Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, welcomed the request by the electoral body.
Noting that anything that would make the election to be a success would be welcome, he said the electoral umpire had not changed the May 29 handover. He, however, enjoined other political parties to join hands with INEC to make the poll a success.
Senator Ndoma Egba, a member of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, advised INEC to make do with limited time at its disposal noting that the request made by the commission, may not be approved.
Ndoma-Egba, who is also the Deputy Senate leader said: “I think INEC should do everything in their powers to work within the current time frame that they have, because the time frame and time line are embedded in the constitution. Given the procedure for the amendment of the constitution, I don’t see the feasibility of any amendment now.”
Noting that all the amendments done to the Electoral Act leading to the conduct of the forthcoming elections had the inputs of INEC, Ndoma Egba wondered why the commission would be making such a proposal now when all the money it requested had been provided.

Ndoma Egba cautions INEC

He said: “My honest advice is that INEC should, as much as possible conduct the election within the existing time frame. The time lines that we are using for the election are embedded in the constitution and the Electoral Act. The implication is that for you to be able to change the date you need to amend part of the constitution and the Electoral Act and the process of the amendment of the constitution involves the state. You have to get at least two third majority of the state houses of Assembly.

I doubt the possibility of that happening now because of the political activities that we have now. Party primaries are coming up. I don’t see the possibility. When we were amending the constitution and the Electoral Act, there were inputs from INEC. It had to be comfortable with the time line and their inputs were reflected. Secondly, they asked for money and every kobo that they asked for was given to them.”

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, urged INEC not to further prolong the time given it noting that tension was already growing in the country over the forthcoming elections.

He said: “I believe the time table originally scheduled can be realised with increased manpower and good use of technology. The tension in Nigeria because of the forthcoming election is too high and we can’t prolong it any further.”

Chairman of the Social Democratic MegaParty, SDMP, Professor Pat Utomi said the request was in line with aspiration of the people of Nigeria.

Utomi said: “I think it’s the intelligent thing to do because we have already called for that. The timetable is unworkable, it is trying to organise something that is not workable.”

In his remarks, Publicity Secretary of Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, threw his weight behind an extension for the general elections but urged all stakeholders to come together to make the 2011 elections a credible one.

He said “We are hitting the rock in a hard place now and because the Electoral Act says election must hold in January, we must not kick against the Electoral Act. Because of the selfish inclination of those who have written that law, we must ensure we go through it. All stakeholders must find a way to ensure that we save Nigeria from a calamity that can befall us in 2011. I agree with the fact that INEC needs more time.”

January date not feasible —ACN

Action Congress in Oyo State, through its Secretary, Mr. Dele Akinleye, said it had been the opinion of the party that the January date was not feasible, adding: “We have been saying it that the January date is not feasible. There would not be adequate time to display the voters register. So, it would be okay if INEC could extend it to March or April 2011. But it must not change the May 29 handover date.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, called for an adjustment of the time table for the on-coming 2011 elections in the country, warning that a national strike action was imminent if state governments refused to implement the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.

National President of ASUU, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, who addressed a news conference at the University of Calabar, said: “The electoral law seems to have programmed the process to fail to guarantee the required free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. This is a dangerous development that threatens the aspirations for a democratic society. National Executive Council, NEC, of ASUU, therefore, calls for an adjustment of the time table, but such adjustment must not interfere with the handover date of May 29, 2011.

“It is unfortunate that the political process in Nigeria has degenerated to a shameful parade of ethnic champions pretending to be serving the country. ASUU believes that for the Nigerian political process to serve the needs of the people of Nigeria, our politicians must rise above the limitations of their ethnic and religious interests and work towards a Nigeria which based on equity, freedom, in a popular democratic state, can become the true giant of Africa.”

ASUU charged the Nigerian people to “force the ruling class to make the 2011 elections the turning point in the process of repositioning the country along the path of greatness and genuine nationhood. The parties must be forced to present to Nigeria their manifestos, run issues-based campaigns, and participate in public debates organized by the civil society.”

Prof Awuzie said such “manifestoes and debates should focus on how to uplift our people from poverty, starvation, joblessness, homelessness, and despair, and move them to progress as a people striving to survive in the twenty-first century.

“Ultimately, ASUU challenges the people of Nigeria to form and build a party of the people to save Nigeria from the class of Nigerians who see and use politics only as a tool for looting the treasury. In the present political and electoral arrangements, only moneyed politicians have the resources to run for the political offices in Nigeria at all levels. This should not happen in a society aspiring to popular democracy.”

Senator Olorunimbe Mamora said the Senate would have to critically examine the request if it is presented before arriving at any decision. Noting that INEC chairman, Prof Jega was the man on ground who should know the implication of his demand, Mamorah said: “He is the man at centre of it all. He is the chairman of the election management board. He has to come up with a formal proposal in that regard to the National Assembly. When such a proposal is brought, the situation is that the National Assembly will need to effect some amendments to the electoral act in order to make this possible.”

I’m vindicated—Atiku

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, described INEC’s call for a shift in the 2011 elections as a vindication of his earlier position that the date earlier slated was unrealistic.

Atiku said: “I and other Nigerians had raised doubts about the workability of the INEC election time table, when it was released two weeks ago. I considered it too tight and too busy a plan to guarantee free and fair elections which are so dear to our country.”

Atiku who blamed the delay in signing the Electoral Act and release of funds to the INEC for the crisis, said: “Taken together, these issues raise questions about the government’s sincerity about conducting credible elections next year and whether Nigerians can trust it to deliver on those.

The government must, therefore, take full and direct responsibility for this embarrassment to the nation. This administration must now show reason why Nigerians should trust that it can conduct free and fair elections if it were to be granted an extension of time.”

He, however, warned that May 29, 2011 date must not be shifted to tinker with handover date.