Opposition party leaders met earlier in Abuja yesterday and rejected INEC’s rescheduling of the National Assembly polls to today.
This followed complaints by some of the parties that the ballot materials being distributed by the commission were fraught with errors which they insisted were to the advantage of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The parties at the meeting with INEC, which lasted several hours refused to bulge on their resolution forcing the commission and the ruling PDP to accept their position for blanket adjustment on election dates.
Some of the parties including the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) complained that their logos were missing in the ballot papers for some of the polls in some states.
The parties also complained that there were shortages of polling centres in their strongholds, which they argued, will ultimately play against them if the elections are held without their concerns addressed.
They rejected arguments by INEC that it was ready for the National Assembly, today as they expressed doubts that all the problems could be solved within 24 hours.
It was also gathered that during the meeting, most parties had insisted on the shift to Saturday on the ground that they do not have enough funds to effectively monitor the polls as banks will be shut INEC had gone ahead with the polls today.
They expressed fears that the PDP might capitalise on their financial weaknesses, to influence their agents and supporters.
Based on their insistence, INEC rescheduled all polls in the 2011 elections by a week interval.
Consequently, the National Assembly elections which could not hold last Saturday due to logistics problems have been shifted to Saturday, April 9, 2011.
In the same vein, the Presidential election initially billed for Saturday, April 9, has been shifted to Saturday, April 16, while the governorship and state Assembly elections which were originally slated for April 16, have been moved to Tuesday April 26, 2011.
The choice of Tuesday for the state elections instead of the weekend is to make room for the Easter festivities across the country.
Announcing the new dates, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega said they were arrived at based on the request by stakeholders including political parties and civil society organisations.
The INEC Chairman said after due consultations, with stakeholders it was agreed that all polls should be shifted so as to eliminate any form of friction in the exercise.
According to Jega, “several representations have been made to the commission urging it to consult more widely and to ensure that the two-day postponement is enough to address all the logistical issues that may militate against a successful conduct of the rescheduled elections.
“Following these representations and subsequent consultations with stakeholders, the commission has found that the overwhelming sentiment is to further reschedule the elections. Requests to reschedule the National Assembly elections have come from a cross-section of stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organisations. However, rescheduling the National Assembly elections would have implications for the schedule of all the other elections. Consequently, the commission weighed all the options and considered the wide ranging counsel of Nigerians and decided to reschedule all the elections,” he stressed.
Jega said though it is possible to hold the National Assembly and Presidential elections the same day, it will serve the nation better if they are conducted separately.
However, commenting on the new dates the leader of the major political parties who spoke to reporters after the meeting said the development is acceptable under the circumstance in order to ensure credible elections.
Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed and his CPC counterpart, Prince Tony Momoh said the new dates were acceptable to the political parties.
Momoh noted that the parties believe that INEC needs more time to address the problems including the omission of some party logos in the ballot papers.
According to Momoh, “the logo of political parties are missing, many names are not on the ballot papers, there are shortages at polling stations and lots and lots of problems and these cannot be addressed within twenty-four hours.There is enough time now to make the necessary adjustments and we believe that Jega can handle the issue.”
On his part, the PDP Chairman said the parties believe that INEC needs more time to prepare for the polls especially following complaints of omission of some party logos in the ballot papers, among others, adding that they still have confidence the commission will deliver credible, free and fair elections.
Meanwhile, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) said last night that it gives its full support for the new election timetable as announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). We understand and respect the reasons behind the adjustments made to the timetable while we look forward to engaging our opponents in a contest that meets the best international standards of free and fair elections beginning from Saturday.
“We call on our supporters to go out that day and discharge their democratic responsibility by voting for our candidates en masse in a civil manner and with decorum.
“The PDP is aware of the spurious allegations of attempts at rigging made against it by opponents. However we see such distractions as the ranting of those who see failure and envisage defeat at the polls and we urge our teeming supporters not to fret but be confident in the party they have so much hope in. The PDP has worked hard and it is the only party that has campaigned in all the corners and crannies of this country.
“We are better placed as a party, to win the elections at all stages given the fact that we are grounded and the biggest and oldest political party in this country while some of our opponents belong to parties hurriedly put together with some not even having offices in most of the states,” it added.
www.mannamart.com
No comments:
Post a Comment