Guardian Mixed Reactions Trail 2015 Elections Timetable Saturday, 25 January 2014 21:27 Written by From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja Category: National inec jega• ‘Will Give Unfair Advantage To Jonathan’ • INEC Explains Choice Of Dates • Says Ban On Campaigns Still In Place MAJOR opposition parties Saturday reacted differently to the 2015 general election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While some hailed the commission on the dates for the presidential and governorship elections, others questioned its decision to hold the presidential and National Assembly polls before the governorship and state assembly elections. Reacting to the date in a telephone interview with The Guardian yesterday in Abuja, the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, praised INEC over what he described as wisdom in the plan to hold elections early enough, and before the swearing-in date. Umeh, who described the timetable as a departure from previous elections, noted that the two weeks’ gap given by the commission to hold the governorship and state assembly elections, after the presidential poll, will give it enough time to examine gains or problems encountered, and correct them. The APGA chairman also expressed his party’s readiness to begin full political activities for the 2015 general elections, as soon as it receives message from INEC, stressing that APGA will abide by the timetable. “The timetable, released this early, is a clear departure from previous ones when the commission tried to suffocate political parties. It is highly commendable, because it will afford the parties enough time to put their houses in order in their choice of candidates. It will also give INEC enough time to analyse the first election well, so as to do better in the next one,” Umeh said. INEC, however, received knocks from the Labour Party (LP) leadership. The LP national chairman, Dan Nwuanyanwu, expressed doubt on the sequence of the election, wondering why the electoral umpire chose to conduct the presidential election before that of governors and state assemblies. Nwuanyanwu, who said that his party would study the timetable and make its observations, however, commended the commission for releasing the timetable on time, stressing that it would guide the parties into picking their candidates on time and without issues. In his reaction, the United Peoples Party (UPP) national chairman, chief Chekwas Okorie, noted that the decision by INEC to hold the presidential election, ahead of other elections, is a grand design to give undue advantage to the incumbent, stressing that like previous elections, the undue advantage means that the party will also benefit at the state level immediately after the presidential election. He noted that though INEC cannot be queried for its decision to put the presidential election ahead of others, because it has the backing of the constitution to chose any date it desires, the undue advantage it has given to the incumbent does not guarantee victory for the PDP and its candidates. Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday revealed that it carefully chose the dates for the 2015 general elections because it is determined to ensure that all matters of litigations that could trail the results would be resolved on time before the swearing-in date of May 29, 2015. INEC’s head of media and publicity, Nick Dazang told The Guardian yesterday in a telephone interview that the commission has put machinery in place to ensure that it completes issues like permanent voters’ card and the continuous voter registration exercise before the end 2014. He, however, warned that the release of the timetable does not mean that politicians and parties have been given permission to kick start campaigns, noting that the commission will soon serve a detailed notice of election to all the registered political parties. “Our intention is to begin early in order to complete all cases of litigation, before the May 29 swearing-in date. The commission will soon flag-off the next phase of the continuous voters’ register, which we are sure, will be completed before the elections. The timetable is meant to guide the parties to begin the choice of candidates early. It does not mean that ban on campaigns have been lifted. No, the ban is still effective, according to the provisions of the electoral act. INEC will also serve a notice of election to all the registered political parties for campaigns to begin.” INEC, on Friday, released the timetable, which indicated that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would be held on February 14, 2015. The timetable also indicated that Governorship and State House of Assembly elections would hold on February 28, 2015 with the exception of Ekiti and Osun, scheduled for June 21, 2014 and August 9, 2014, respectively. Senator Lekan Balogun, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, expressed belief in the INEC arrangement. “The INEC timetable is very good and we (politicians) have no problem with it; all we need do is adjust to the programme,” he said. Balogun called on politicians to prepare for the elections, insisting that he does not doubt the leadership of INEC in conducting fair and free elections. Mr. Akin Oke, the acting chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said his worry stems from the presidential election coming up before the governorship election. Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, a stalwart of the APC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by phone that the timetable was workable. He, however, said he is not sure whether or not the proposed National Conference would have been concluded before the elections. “INEC has nothing to do with the conference; but I hope the reorganisation of political parties would have been carried out and concluded before then,” he said. Dr Nureni Adeniran, the Public Relations Officer for Accord Party in the state, said the executive would meet and come up with an official reaction. “The timetable calls for serious analysis and critical study by Accord Party members and officials before coming up with an official reaction,” he said. Senator Sunny Ugbuoji (PDP-Ebonyi) said the early release of the 2015 election timetable by INEC would provide ample opportunity for Nigerians to choose the right candidates. Ugbuoji, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), commended INEC for renewed effort to ensure timely and smooth electioneering campaigns for prospective candidates to reach out to the electorate. He, however, urged INEC to embark on massive voter enlightenment to educate Nigerians on the need to actively participate in the electoral process. He said: “It is very proactive and aims to give people the opportunity to make up their minds on what they really want. Politicking and canvassing for support should go down properly, so that people are truly convinced of who they want to vote for. “The release of this timetable will make people know the persons they really want to choose. It should be followed with political education because that is one thing that is lacking in the activities of INEC. With adequate political education, people will really understand what is expected of the electorate during election,” he said. Senator Ehigie Uzamere (APC-Edo) also welcomed the release of the timetable, saying it would allow for early preparations by the political parties. “For the first time, I am sure the entire Nigerian people would be happy that the timetable came out a year before the elections,” he said. He added that the electorate and the political parties would have enough time to prepare for the elections. ”We (politicians) must be careful and remember that after politics there must be life; politics is not a do-or-die affair. We all believe that politics is just a game and after that we remain friends, brothers and sisters; that is the only way we can protect this democracy.” Senator Ben Ayade (PDP-Cross River), expressed concerns over the February 14 date for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Ayade noted that holding the elections on February 14, 2015 would not give room for litigation within the specified six months. The swearing-in ceremony is supposed to be May 29, 2015; and with the election in February, it does not even allow the six months for litigation,” he said. The lawmaker said that INEC should have waited for the amendment of the Electoral Act before releasing the timetable. “I think the Senate is trying to have the Electoral Act reviewed; the timetable couldn’t have come out before the amendment of the Act.”
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 07:51:44 +0000
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