BY DANIEL IDONOR
ABUJA — THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday declared that is has no plans to interfere in the affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, despite the lapses and uncertainties that led to the postponement of last Saturday’s federal legislative polls.

The government also distanced itself from the rumours making the rounds of another planned postponement of the rescheduled National Assembly elections by INEC slated for Saturday.

The FEC session chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, confirmed that it, however, reviewed the hiccups and subsequent revelations that have outraged Nigerians and embarrassed the nation, but resolved to respect the autonomy of the electoral body.

Briefing State House correspondents, Minister of Information and Communication, Mr Labaran Maku, said INEC chaired by Attahiru Jega, got all it requested for including enough finance and resources to carry its assignment, hence it would be left alone to sort out the problems and complete its job.

His words: “INEC is independent of the executive arm of government, because INEC is an ombudsman. We have done everything possible, especially under President Jonathan, to remove the last vestiges of any control of the federal executive on INEC.

“So, INEC is an independent body, with its own budget, with its own planning, it deploys its own resources. What we have done, especially since last year, is to make available to INEC every requirement, every financial requirement that INEC has asked for the successful conduct of the general elections.”

Maku reiterated government’s belief that following the rescheduling of the polls, INEC would deliver, adding: “INEC is handling all those issues that were raised by observers, politicians and actors concerning the level of preparations that we saw last week.

“It is our hope and belief that, come this week, INEC will now have the opportunity of using the postponement to address all the issues, especially the question of having adequate vehicles.”