By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE
LAGOS –  THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has put forward tomorrow’s rescheduled National Assembly elections in 15 senatorial and 48 federal constituencies citing shortages of election materials.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, revealing plans for tomorrow’s National Assembly elections confessed that the logistic constraints which marred last Saturday’s polls were yet to be fully overcome compelling the rescheduling of the polls to April 26, 2011.

Jega said that elections into the affected National Assembly constituencies would now hold the same day with the governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

The decision immediately raised fresh legal controversy on the possible violation of Section 25 of the Electoral Act which stipulates that the National Assembly elections should hold prior to the presidential and gubernatorial elections.

Identity of contractor

Jega, flanked by top INEC officials at a press conference at the commission’s headquarters, also stood his ground that he would not reveal the identity of the contractor that failed to deliver the electoral materials which caused the nationwide postponement of the National Assembly elections earlier scheduled for last Saturday.

As exclusively reported by Vanguard yesterday, he said the commission was going to respect a confidentiality clause in the contract with the vendor even as he said the commission was pressing ahead for sanctions to address the contractual breach.

Remarkably, the INEC boss said the commission was still in the process of formalizing a contract for the supply of election materials needed for the National Assembly constituencies where elections have now again been rescheduled. Jega said that the commission would very soon place orders for the supply of the election materials with either local or foreign vendors.

The 15 senatorial constituencies affected by the election postponement are: Bayelsa Central; Benue North; Cross River South and Central; Ebonyi North; Ekiti Central, North and South; Gombe North and Kaduna North.

Also affected by the postponement are Niger South; Plateau North, Central and South and Sokoto North.

Elections in federal constituencies

The elections would also not hold in 48 federal constituencies including Isialangwa North/South (Abia); Ukanafun/Oron (Akwa Ibom); Anambra East and West, Nnewi/Ekwusigo, Oyi/Anyamelu (Anambra); Gwer East/West, Katsina Ala/ Ukum (Benue); Abi/Yakurr (Cross River); Aniocha/Oshimili, Ethiope East/West, Bomadi/Patani (Delta): Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo (Ebonyi); Akoko Edo (Edo); Ado Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ido/Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje, Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon, Ikole/Oye (Ekiti); Yamaltu/Deba, Kaltungo/Shongom, Dukku/Nafada (Gombe), Okigwe/Iheme/Mbanu (Imo) and Taura/Ringim (Jigawa).

Other affected federal constituencies are: Ikara/Kubau, Kachia/Kagarko, Kauru, Makarfi/Kudan, Zangon Kataf/Soba (Kaduna); Dala, Gwarzo/Kabo, Karaye/Rogo (Kano); Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun (Kwara); Ifako/Ijaye, Shomolu, Ikorodu (Lagos); Keffi/Kokona/Karu (Nasarawa); Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Lavun/Edasi/Mokwa (Niger); Abeokuta North/Obafemi_Owode 1/Odeda, Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North_East, Ebgabdo South/Ipokia, Ijebu North/Ijegu North East/Ogun Water Side, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun); Ibadan NW/SW (Oyo); Jos North/Bassa, Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (Plateau); Port Harcourt 2 (Rivers) and Anka/Talata Mafara, Zurmi/Shinkafi (Zamfara).

Jega cited the unavailability of sufficient ballot papers as a result of the consumption of ballot papers during last Saturday’s aborted election leading to shortages for tomorrow’s election. He also cited the absence of some party symbols on the ballot papers in some of the affected constituencies.

While noting efforts by the commission to redress the failures of last Saturday, he said: “Some challenges emerging from the fact that voting took place in some areas in spite of the postponement require more time than we have had since last Saturday. For example, in some areas a good quantity of ballot papers had been used and it is not possible to reprint enough replacement ballot papers before the elections.

“Also, in a few constituencies, party names and logos were missing on ballot papers. While some of these resulted from human errors in compiling the names of qualified candidates and parties for the elections, others are related to sudden changes emanating from several judicial pronouncements on party nominations.

“The commission has made strenuous efforts to get these ballot papers printed within the available time; but given the security requirements of the printing of ballot papers and the inability of domestic and international companies to deliver on time, it has become imperative that sufficient time be given for the printing of these ballot papers.

“Consequently, while elections will in general take place next Saturday, it has become inevitable to postpone elections in a few affected constituencies, that is 15 Senatorial Districts and 48 Federal Constituencies.”
Jega said the elections will now hold on “Tuesday, April 26,  2011 together with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.”

Concerns in political and legal circles

The decision to reschedule the National Assembly polls till after the presidential polls immediately raised concerns in certain political and legal sections, yesterday, as it touches on the order of elections as stipulated in Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010.

The section reads thus:
(1) Elections into the offices of the President and Vice_President, the Governor
and Deputy Governor of a State, and to the Membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation shall be held in the following order:
a. Senate and House of Representatives;
b. Presidential election; and
C. State House of Assembly, and Governorship elections.

There were concerns of INEC stoking legal battles over the matter. On why he would not reveal the identity of the vendor that botched the last poll, he said: “ The contractor signed a contract; this contract has clauses that are legally binding. On matters of legal contract we have to be very careful. We are doing something about it.

Our reluctance to speak to the media about it is part of that caution so that we don’t do anything that can be prejudicial or have negative impact in terms of our ability to ensure that the legal processes are followed. We are investigating and finalizing the legal procedures that have to be taken.”

Local printers

He added that the commission discussed with some local printers about the possibility of printing additional ballot papers before tomorrow’s election but decided it was too risky to entrust them with the responsibility  because of the limited time available before the polls.

Jega noted: “We need enough time to produce the ballot papers whether locally or internationally,” stressing that even if some Nigerians had developed apathy due to the postponement of last Saturday’s polls, there were many others who were still sympathetic and confident  about participating.

However, the INEC boss refused to answer categorically whether he was under any pressure or threatened to resign his job at any time due to such pressures.

He equally said the commission had as a means of addressing the difficulties in movement experienced by electoral workers last Saturday distributed 100 more vehicles to the ones initially sent out to the States.

QUESTIONS FOR JEGA

Did INEC conduct a secret registration of voters in Katsina recently?

*For what purpose?
*Why the secrecy?

Why did Jega insist three days to election that the ballot papers were available?

Areas where polls won’t hold tomorrow

Federal constituencies

Isiala Ngwa North/South, Abia
Ukanafun/Oron, Akwa Ibom
Anambra East, Anambra
Anambra West, Anambra
Nnewi/Ekwusigo, Anambra
Oyi/Anyamelu, Anambra
Gwer East/West, Benue
Katsina Ala/Ukum, Benue
Abi/Yakurr, Cross River
Aniocha/Oshimili, Delta
Ethiope East/West, Delta
Bomadi/Patani, Delta
Ohaozara/Onichal/Ivo, Ebonyi
Akoko Edo, Edo
Ado Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun,
Ekiti Ido/Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje,          Ekiti
Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon, Ekiti
Ikole/Oye, Ekiti
Yamaltu/Deba, Gombe
Kaltungo/Shongom, Gombe
Dukku/Nafada, Gombe
Okigwe/Ihime/Mbano, Owerri
Taura/Ringim, Jigawa
Ikara/Kubau, Kaduna
Kachia/Kagarko, Kaduna
Kauru, Kaduna
Makarfi/Kudan, Kaduna
Zangon Kataf/Soba, Kaduna
Dala, Kano
Gwarzo/Kabo, Kano
Karaye/Rogo, Kano
Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun, Kwara
Ifako/Ijaiye, Lagos
Shomolu, Lagos
Ikorodu, Lagos
Keffi/Kokona/Karu, Nasarawa
Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Niger
Lavun/Edasi/Mokwa, Niger
Abeokuta North/Obafemi_Owode I, Ogun
Odeda, Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North_East, Ogun
Egbado South/Ipokia, Ogun
Ijebu North/Ijegu North East/Ogun Water Side, Ogun
Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North, Ogun
Ibadan NW/SW, Oyo
Jos North/Bassa, Plateau
Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam, Plateau
Port Harcourt II, Rivers
Anka/Talata Marafa, Zamfara
Zurmi/Shinkafi, Zamfara.

Senatorial Districts

Bayelsa Central
Benue North
CR South,
CR Central
Ebonyi North
Ekiti Central
Ekiti North
Ekiti South
Gombe North
Kaduna North
Niger South
Plateau North
Plateau South
Plateau Central
Sokoto North