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Political leaders,
including the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko have called on the
leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not
to disappoint Nigerians when next it holds the rescheduled elections.

Mr. Mimiko, who
spoke in Ondo town, said the disappointment of last Saturday was morale
dampening. “A lot of activities and resources have been put into it. We
will wait. There is nothing anybody can do about that,” he said. “INEC
should go back to the drawing board and ensure that there won’t be any
excuse”.

The Former
Secretary to the Federation, Olu Falae commended the chairman of the
electoral body for his coming out to announce the postponement of the
election. He, however called for compensation for political parties
which he said must have lost fortunes due to the postponement of the
election. He said his party, The Socio Democratic Mega Party (SDMP),
disbursed about N5m to party agents across the country.

Joseph Sangosanya,
a civil society activist, said on Sunday in Jos that Mr. Jega’s
attitude had shown that ‘the era of impunity is over.’ “Since Jega can
come out to accept responsibility and publicly apologise to Nigerians,
it shows that the era of impunity is gradually coming to an end in this
country,” he said. “What Jega has done takes some level of humility and
this is just one of the proofs that our democracy is really working and
we should all support the process.” He said it is regrettable that the
Nigerian Security and Minting Company could not print the country’s
currencies and ballot papers. “For Nigeria, which prides itself as the
giant of Africa, to be printing ballot papers and currencies from
another country is a national security threat,” he said. “These are our
symbols of sovereignty and if these basic things are still being
printed outside at this age, how do we intend to defend ourselves
during war?”

Aniekan Akpan,
Chairman of ACN in the state, said INEC was out to cause confusion that
would possibly invalidate the votes in favour of the ruling party. He
pinned his argument on the basis that on the ballot paper, the two
parties of AC and ACN is represented with the same symbol of the broom;
whereas the AC has folded into ACN. “If you look at the ballot paper,
there are two parties, AC and ACN but AC has been transformed into ACN.
There is nothing as AC as a party. They have the same symbol of broom.
Now the question is during the ballot, which one will the electorate
vote? The reason is to create confusion,” he said.

Missing party logo

The Ogun State
Chapter of National Conscience Party {NCP} raised alarm that the
party’s logo is not in the ballot papers and this has to be fixed ahead
of the election.

The governorship
candidate of the party, Lanre Banjo, said the discovery was made when
he went to vote in his polling booth in Sagamu town, just before the
postponement of the National Assembly election.

He said the
development amounts to a setback for his party, which would not be
taken lightly. ‘‘I have just submitted a petition on this to the INEC
Resident Electoral Commissioner, and waiting for the next line of
action, all what I know is that we cannot afford not to participate in
the election, we would not accept lapses which will rob us off our
civic rights’, the party chieftain declared Similarly, a candidate of
the All Nigeria Peoples Party {ANPP}, Ayo Akanbi also raised alarm over
non-existence of the party logo in the ballot papers. ‘‘I have
complained to the electoral officers in Ota and also the leadership of
our party at the state level with assurance that the issue will be
taken up,’ he said.

The decision to
shift the date of the elections by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has been hailed by some political parties, which
described the move as a way of saving the country from further
embarrassment.

However, others
have insisted that INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega should resign his
appointment for allegedly embarrassing the nation. The electoral body
yesterday shifted by one week all the elections following the
cancellation of the National Assembly elections last Saturday over
shortage of election materials across the country.

The acting national
chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello Mohammed
hailed the decision to shift the polls and urged the party’s supporters
to remain calm. “We’ll continue to support INEC in delivering free,
fair and credible elections. We need it as it aligns with our political
objective of promoting and establishing political stability in the
country and fostering national integration,” Mr. Mohammed said. “Our
party stands to gain immensely in an atmosphere of free, fair and
credible elections. Therefore no sacrifice is too much for our party in
seeing our elections meet globally-acceptable standards.”

The Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC) said the postponement was a welcome decision
because it will enable INEC to sort out its logistical problems. The
national publicity secretary of the party, Rotimi Fashakin, however
regretted the cancellation of the polls. “We welcome the decision
because we believe it will give INEC enough time to sort out its
logistical nightmares. We believe that it will also help to have
credible polls. We’re ready to go into the polls on Saturday,” he told
NEXT in a telephone interview last night.

Mr. Fashakin
condemned calls for Mr Jega’s resignation, saying instead of that , all
Nigerians should resolve to assist him succeed in his assignment. He
recalled that the electoral bosshad in the past courageously stood on
the path of equity and fairness going by some decision he took.

The spokesman of
the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Emma Eneukwu said the party has
been vindicated because it was the first to reject the Monday date
earlier fixed by INEC after the parliamentary elections had been
cancelled. He said the party had initially demanded that the elections
be held on the same day with the presidential election, but that it is
satisfied with the new dates.

“We had earlier
aligned ourselves with those aid that the National Assembly elections
should be held the same day with the presidential election the reason
being that it will not only save cost, it will ensure that the
elections are conducted freely and fairly,” Mr. Eneukwu said. “The
nation has taken time and resources to prepare for this election and so
it is important that that everything is done properly. Let’s not
hurriedly go into this exercise and forget that if it is not credible,
we have all wasted our time. Parties also need time to prepare again
given the cost of logistics and other things involved.”

The national
chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanayanwu also hailed the
decision to postpone the elections, insisting that it will restore the
confidence of the electorate in the process. Mr. Nwanyanwu said the
political parties told INEC in clear terms at a meeting yesterday in
Abuja that the Monday date earlier fixed for the parliamentary polls
was not feasible and that the new date will allow the commission to
resolve all the problems associated with the process. He advised Mr.
Jega to put all mechanism in place to reassure Nigerians that the
process will be credible so as to avoid apathy on the election day.

False steps

Meanwhile, the
Nigerian Peoples Congress (NPC), on Sunday, asked Mr. Jega to resign
his appointment following his inability to conduct last Saturday
elections, adding that it is the only way he can save his image and the
nation further embarrassment. “It has become necessary for the
Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Attahiru Jega to
resign following his inability to conduct the National Assembly
elections last Saturday. This is the only way he can save his image and
save the nation further embarrassment,” the party said in a statement
by its national chairman, Ngozi Emioma.

The opposition
party recalled that only last Friday, the INEC boss had assured the
nation and the international community that the commission was ready
for the NASS elections only to announce that the elections had been
postponed due to late arrival of result sheets from Japan. The
cancellation, NPC said, is a national disaster that has once more
proved that Mr. Jega is not ready to conduct transparent polls.

According to the
party, it was wrong for the INEC chairman to unilaterally fix the
Monday date for the election without consulting the political parties.

“To unilaterally
fix Monday, April 4 for the NASS elections without consulting political
parties and other stakeholders shows that Jega is not serious,” the
party said.

The NPC warned the commission “not to take Nigerians for a ride,”
adding that the electoral boss has demoralised the electorate and the
country. “He had earlier made a number of false steps which we strongly
condemned and urged him to sit up and do the right thing. This time he
has ridiculed the national before the whole world. We urge him to
resign immediately.”

Last Saturday’s
postponed National Assembly Election that was characterized by
irregularities, violence and non-availability of sensitive electoral
materials had recorded violence in some area councils of Ebonyi State
resulting in the killing of two agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Ezza South.

Sunday Nwani Egede,
a former councillor and Iruks Nwankwoegu, a PDP agent, were alleged to
have been killed by thugs believed to be loyal to the opposition All
Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

The ANPP supporters
were said to have been provoked by the killing of six people perceived
to be opposed to the ruling PDP in the state.

A former local
government chairman in the area was said to have led irate mobs who
attacked and clubbed Mr. Egede to death. The suspect has been arrested
by the police.

Lazarus Obehi, the
chairman of Ezza South, the violence had “led to a state of insecurity
causing people to desert the pooling booths and run for their dear
lives. Many are afraid of being victim of police indiscriminate arrest.

“People of Ntezi
and Amuzu where we have three pooling units with eligible voter
numbering over 2000 have deserted their homes and ran into hiding for
insecurity. Instead of coming out to exercise their franchise and vote
to candidates of their choice, the sporadic shooting experienced early
hours of Friday and today (Saturday) have put people on their tolls.

“They are now scare to the marrows, they abandoned their houses and ram away for their dear lives”, Mr. Obehi said.

Ben Njoku, the
Electoral Officer of Ezza South who was met sorting electoral materials
at the council headquarters also lamented that “the development the
development has made party officials to be on my neck. They have
grumbled as if it was my fault”.

In Afikpo South
local government area, Cornelius Ani Sunday, the collection officer of
Amuro/Mgbom ward decried that some Youth Corps members and other ad-hoc
staff trained as presiding officers against seven pooling units in the
wars failed to turn up for undisclosed reasons.

He said; “Am not
authorized to recruit new people who are not trained in this
circumstance to replace the Corps members for the conduct of the
election. Look at the electoral materials meant for the pooling units
still here even as at 2.00pm”.

Snatched materials

At Akanto ward in
Amasiri, also in Afikpo South local government, electoral materials
meant for four polling units in the area were alleged to have been
snatched by thugs who claim INEC was yet to pay them the last
registration of voters exercise remuneration.

Paul Agha, the Coordinator, Amasiri Development Centre vowed to recover the snatched electoral materials.

“This is the
problem we found ourselves in, INEC had good plans for the election,
but the execution is poor, it has been marred by irregularities
nationwide.”

At Uburu in Ohaozara, the country home of both the ANPP National
chairman Ogbonnaya Onu and the PDP deputy gubernatorial candidate Dave
Umahi, suspected PDP supporters invaded the neighbourhood and family
compounds of ANPP state Assembly candidate and that of his counterpart
vying for the House of Representatives shooting sporadically. A female
student of the School of Nursing of the Presbyterian Joint Hospital,
Uburu, was shot during the violence.

Like archeologists
with an exciting discovery, or clerics considering a new commandment,
some Americans spent this week analysing what they called ‘The Obama
Doctrine,’ closely enough to annoy President Barack Obama himself.

“I think it’s
important not to take this particular situation and then try to project
some sort of Obama Doctrine,” he told an interviewer on NBC TV.

This ‘particular
situation’ is Libya, where the president has committed American
airpower to protect civilians in the rebellion against Moammar Gadhafi.

Under pressure to
explain his apparently sudden decision, Obama gave a nationally
televised address, arguing that the international effort to protect
innocent people from slaughter was a moral imperative, even without
narrowly defined U.S. interests or security at stake.

American scholars
and pundits have long adorned presidents’ biggest decisions and
broadest instincts about the use of force with the title of ‘doctrine,’
as if they were articles of faith.

Whatever you want
to call them, presidential doctrines do tend to have an enduring impact
on American policy and, as a result, on the entire world.

The first one many
historians cite was the Monroe Doctrine, President James Monroe’s 19th
century decision to establish and ensure Washington’s unrivalled
influence in the entire western hemisphere.

The most recent was
President George Bush’s determination after the 9/11 attacks of 2001 to
fight all terrorism worldwide, famous as the “Bush Doctrine.”

So has Libya
revealed an Obama Doctrine? Some observers say that the decision to
intervene militarily in a country that poses no direct danger to the
U.S. or its interests, suggests it has.

The president’s own
speech said he would not attempt unilateral regime change, but is
willing to contemplate quick military action, with limited means and
goals, in cooperation with America’s allies, for purely humanitarian
reasons.

“There will be
times,” he said, “when our safety is not directly threatened, but our
interests and our values are. Sometimes, the course of history poses
challenges that threaten our common humanity and our common security –
responding to natural disasters, for example; or preventing genocide
and keeping the peace.”

Obama says that
Libya isn’t an example of his plans for other places. But we may have
heard the clear expression of the Obama Doctrine from the president
himself. Historians are no doubt taking note.

Jonathan Mann
presents Political Mann on CNN International each Friday at 18:30
(CAT), Saturday at 3pm and 9pm (CAT), and Sunday at 10am (CAT).

The Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo state, has renewed its call for the
redeployment of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ayo Adakeja,
insisting that his presence as the eye of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) would rubbish the resolve to have a free,
fair and credible election.

Former Oyo state
governor and leader of the party, Lam Adesina, made the call for an
umpteenth time in Ibadan on Sunday while addressing newsmen during a
protest over the National Assembly elections that was suspended midway
last Saturday. The protest, which was planned to be staged at the INEC
office on Sunday, was held at the party’s state secretariat at Yemetu,
Ibadan.

Wasiu Olatunbosun,
Oyo ACN secretary, said the change in venue was informed by the
decision of party elders and consideration of its security implications.

Appraising the
botched poll, Mr.Adesina also noted that if the nation really desires
to have a crisis-free polls, it must prevail on the chairman of the
INEC, Attahiru Jega, to use manual register to complement the shortfall
of names of eligible voters left out in the digital register presented
at the polling booths for the election.

According to him,
besides late arrival of materials and non-appearance in some polling
stations, there were huge inadequate security provision in many areas
of the state. He said the state’s REC has compromised his office and
cannot be trusted to be an unbiased umpire for elections in Oyo state.

The former governor
was worried that many eligible voters whose names were confirmed to be
on the register during the commission’s voters’ register display could
not find their names again when they came for accreditation and voting
on Saturday, fearing that it could be a ploy by the ruling party to
reduce the number of voters in areas where they are not popular. To
prevent rowdy situations at the polling booths, he advised that the
manual register be brought to allow the registered voters exercise
their rights unhindered.

Party infiltration

Lamenting the
logistical lapses that led to the suspension of the election, Mr.
Adesina alleged that some of the INEC officials used are card-carrying
members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asking, “where is equity
, where is fair play?”. “What we are witnessing today is a
reincarnation of what happened in 1965. But, we are not going to allow
any election result to be announced .We are ready to pay the supreme
price to save democracy and Oyo State,” he said. “This Akala man has
done nothing for our people. From the result of the votes counted
yesterday (Saturday), it is obvious the people want a change. They are
for ACN. And the people need to be liberated. We don’t need the police
or the military, we are battle ready to protect our votes. It is like
we are in a war situation now”.

Mr. Adesina said
although in spite of the party’s protest to the INEC chairman, Mr
Adakeja still remains in Oyo, if equity and fair play would be ensured
in the state, the REC must be redeployed immediately. Apart from the
huge crowd of party members and supporters, the rally had in attendance
ACN leaders including Iyiola Oladikun, former deputy governor of the
state; Abiola Ajimobi, ACN governorship candidate and Akin Oke, state
party chairman of the party.

INEC to distribute materials with helicopters in Borno

Tukur Sa’ad, the
Borno Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said on Sunday that the
commission would use Air Force helicopters to distribute election
materials to difficult terrains in the state.

The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the commission had on Saturday shifted the
National Assembly election to Monday, due to the late arrival of some
essential materials.

But Mr. Sa’ad told NAN in Maiduguri that the commission had taken all the necessary measures to correct the lapses.

“I am happy to hear
that the Nigeria Air Force has made available some of its helicopters
to carry sensitive voting materials for the elections. I believe that
the gesture has made our job simpler by making sure that the needed
materials got to their destination in time,” he said.

He said the postponement was in good faith, adding that the outcome would have been disastrous if the election had been held.

Meanwhile, the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigerians not to blame the INEC
chairman, Attahiru Jega, alone for the postponement of the National
Assembly elections to April 4.

The group said this
was because INEC had maintained its independence through the new
process and called on Nigerians not to “slay the goose that lays the
golden eggs.”

Mr. Jega had, on
April 2, postponed the NASS election on the grounds of non-availability
of sufficient logistics, including ballot papers and result sheets
nationwide.

Is-haq Akintola,
the director of MURIC, in a statement signed in Sunday in Abuja said
the group “laments over this national tragedy, but we salute the INEC
chairman, Attahiru Jega, for having the courage to face the truth early
in the exercise. The non-arrival of materials can hardly be blamed on
him personally.”

He called on the Federal Government and Nigerians to give Mr. Jega the privilege of concluding the assignment.

‘Era of voting based on religion and sentiments is over’

Ibrahim Gobir,
senatorial candidate of the PDP for Sokoto east senatorial district,
says Nigerians will massively vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in
the presidential election, declaring that the era of voting based on
religion and sentiments is over.

Mr. Gobir told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Sokoto that the “provision
of petroleum products, drilling of River Niger, establishment of new
universities, and expansion of railway lines were some of the
achievements of the government. “

According to him,
the era of voting for a presidential candidate based on religion and
sentiments is now over, hence the need for Nigerians to vote for
President Jonathan, for transformation and development.

“We are aware of
what Jonathan can do based on his antecedents and we strongly believe
he will take Nigeria out of the woods, if given the mandate,” the
senatorial candidate said, and called on the people to protect their
votes after voting “massively for all the PDP candidates seeking
elective positions across the country.”

He also called on
PDP supporters to cooperate with INEC officials in their resolve to
ensure smooth implementation of the electoral process.

Kebbi INEC takes measures to eliminate obstacles

The INEC in Kebbi
State says it has adopted measures to eliminate obstacles during the
conduct of the National Assembly election re-scheduled for Saturday,
April 16.

The INEC Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Kabir Ahmed, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi
on Saturday that additional electoral officers would be deployed to
polling units, especially those with a large number of voters.

Mr. Ahmed said that the commission would also provide additional vehicles for timely distribution of election materials.

“We realised that
45 per cent of polling units commenced election processes on time. We
will also ensure that experienced officers are posted to the polling
units on Saturday. The deployment of more policemen and security
operatives to units with high population of voters will be effected,
and we appeal to voters to exhibit respect for law and order,” he said.

He said that the commission would rectify the problem of some voters whose names were not found in the voter register.

Mr. Ahmed urged the
media to disseminate information on the measures being taken by INEC to
address the challenges that compelled the suspension of the National
Assembly election.

Nigerians in UK react to postponement

Nigerians resident
in the UK have expressed optimism that the general elections in Nigeria
will be free and fair, in spite of the postponement of the National
Assembly election on Saturday.

Boma Douglas, chairman, UK chapter of Reality 2011 Worldwide, a political support group, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London, on Sunday, that INEC would conduct credible elections.

“I believe INEC
wants to deliver; so Nigerians should support them toward making sure
that the elections are free and fair. The elections will be free and
fair because I have confidence in Attahiru Jega,” Mr. Douglas said.

He also expressed optimism that President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, would emerge victorious.

“The presence of
PDP has been felt and the duo have explained to the electorate what
their intentions are in terms of governance; so I have no doubt that
Jonathan and Sambo will come out victorious,” Mr. Douglas said.

Also speaking,
Bimbo Folayan, chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the
UK (CANUK), said the decision to postpone the NASS election was timely
and in order.

He said if the electoral body deemed it fit to tell Nigerians there was problem, the electorate should accept it in good faith.

“I will rather
prefer INEC to err on the side of caution than to go ahead for the
process to turn violent. Mr President made it clear that votes will
count this time around, and if INEC realised that votes were not going
to count, then the postponement was timely,” Mr. Folayan said.

He appealed to
Nigerians not to regard the elections as Mr. Jega’s affair alone,
adding that they should support him to ensure that there was a peaceful
election.

The chairman of the
Association of Nigerian Academics in the UK (ANAUK), Adedamola Aminu,
expressed disappointment over the postponement.

“INEC should have a plan B; I am really disappointed at the news
because of the time and money devoted to this election. I am surprised
that INEC did not put plan B in place to forestall this embarrassing
situation. It is very disappointing, knowing our position in Africa and
the expectations from the international community,” Mr. Aminu said.

While the chairman
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega,
was announcing the cancellation of the 2011 National Assembly elections
for unavailability of materials, former head of state and presidential
candidate of the CPC, Mohammed Buhari, was casting his vote at his home
town in Daura, Katsina State.

Reacting after
confirming the cancellation of the elections, Mr. Buhari said the
reason advanced by INEC for the cancellation had to be respected. He,
however, called on Nigerians to come out on the new date fixed for the
elections.

“INEC is the
institution saddled with the responsibility of conducting free and fair
elections. So now it has been postponed, we will wait. The bottom line
is the INEC chairman has apologised. I will ask everyone to come out
and still give the support they showed today,” Mr. Buhari said.

Underage voters

But despite the
cancellation of the elections which were relatively peaceful across the
state, voters in several places were still seen voting in many polling
units, some up to one hour after the announcement. Many of the INEC
presiding officials when approached said they were yet to be informed
of the cancellation.

At Yamadawa, in
Dauri local government area, one of the centres still conducting the
elections after the cancellation, NEXT witnessed many underaged
children voting.

This was in
connivance with the youth corper, INEC official, and a police
constable, Mohammed Idris. The corper was initially antagonistic to
answering any questions but later, when the crew of a TV station put
their camera on him, he said Mr. Idris was to blame.

“I believe you see
security is here and I told him I don’t want to see them [children]
here. That is security there,” the youth corper said, while trying to
hide his face from the camera.

In turn, Mr. Idris, in incoherent English, claimed the children are adults, saying they are only small in stature.

When contacted on
the issue, the Katsina State police spokesperson, Abubakar Mohammed,
said the responsibility of ensuring only adults register and vote lies
with INEC, and not the police.

“It is INEC who are
in charge. They are the ones who carry out voters registration, who
have the voters bio-data, and who know who is eligible to vote, not the
police. We are only there to ensure the security of the INEC officials
and that the conduct of the exercise is peaceful,” Mr. Mohammed said.

INEC’s spokesperson
in Katsina, Mohammed Musa, could not comment on the voting by minors,
as he said he was only just assuming duty as the state’s public
relations officer for the first time in the morning of the elections.

He, however, said the commission regrets all inconvenience caused by the annulment and postponement of the elections.

More frustration

But for Becky
Akhirebhu, a youth corp member drafted to Bujawa polling unit in Dutsi
local government, the postponement translates to more frustration,
having spent several hours accrediting 310 people of a total of 462
registered at the unit she was in charge of.

“We had accredited
310 people and 10 people had just cast their votes when we heard. It is
not funny because we have being here since morning. It is difficult
enough having to deal with all these people and now this. It is too
much stress. It is frustrating. And now to come back on Monday. I am
tired,” she said.

In a separate reaction, the Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema,
stated that he knows the situation could frustrate the election
process, but pleaded with the people of the state to come out enmasse
and cast their votes on the new date.

The Anambra Central
senatorial candidate of Accord Party, Annie Okonkwo, has described
reports that he has stepped down for Chris Ngige of the Action Congress
of Nigeria as “wicked, false and misleading.” Mr. Okonkwo, the
incumbent senator, who defected from the People’s Democratic Party to
re-run for the senate, said he is still in the race saying reports that
he has withdrawn from the senatorial race which was published on
Saturday by some national dailies as false. “I wish to state
categorically and emphatically that the said information is a base lie,
suggestive of the desperation of its beneficiary and sponsors, whose
exposed underbelly clearly marks them out as undeserving of an elevated
senatorial seat.” Mr. Okonkwo said.

News of the
incumbent senator’s withdrawal was spread on Friday morning as part of
the April Fool’s day antics of some politicians. He said the joke went
too far after it was published in some dailies. “I request my
appreciated voting public of Anambra Central to completely ignore this
fever induced midday fantasy and please go all out emasse on Saturday
to stamp the authority of their preference for me with the enormous
power of their votes and patience,” he added.

National sacrifice

Meanwhile, the
Senate President, David Mark, who is also re-running, has asked
Nigerians to come out enmasse to elect members of the 2011 National
Assembly during the rerun election. He pleaded that the set-back
occasioned by the postponement of the exercise on Saturday should be
seen as a national sacrifice, and exhibit high level of patriotism in
this exercise to ensure that the elections of 2011 reflects the wishes
and yearnings of the nation. “This is a temporary set-back,” he said.
“It will test our resilience and perseverance as a people determined to
chart the right course for our generation and those yet unborn. I
believe that if we get it right this time, we would have laid a solid
foundation that would be built upon by successive administrations and
people.” He was optimistic that the Independent National Electoral
Commission, (INEC) would rise up to the occasion after the
short-comings that necessitated the postponement and conduct free, fair
and credible elections that would meet international standard and
satisfy all stakeholders.

The President of the Senate also cautioned political parties and
candidates to guide their utterances. “We must guide our utterances and
actions so that we would not unwittingly inflame anger or provocation.”

Attahiru
Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission is
receiving a lot of flak, and many will say rightfully so, for the
fiasco which unfolded on Saturday. He postponed the National Assembly
election because according to him, an “unanticipated emergency we have
experienced with late arrival of result sheets in many parts of the
country. The result sheets are central to the elections and their
integrity.’’

The electoral body
appears to have had serious logistic failures that meant voting
materials like ballot papers and score sheets didn’t reach their
destination on time. This is the official explanation. However, in
Nigeria nothing is ever that straight forward. Theories abound about
the real reasons for the postponement. They include a conspiracy theory
that suggests Mr. Jega is being sabotaged by his own staff who have
been ‘settled’ so he can be disgraced and forced to resign; to rumours
about governors who hijacked election materials forcing Mr. Jega to
first consider postponing election in a few states, and then nationwide
because it became clear that theft of electoral material was once more
widespread than INEC first realised.

There is also a
rumour that this is a ploy by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan to
postpone elections to extend his tenure of office. Then there are those
who say that the President has no hand in the fiasco unfolding but will
get blamed anyway because that is the nature of things in this country.

It really shouldn’t
matter which of these stories we believe. Whether it is the official
version by INEC or the many other stories making the rounds. What is
clear is that Mr. Jega and INEC were certain that under the
circumstances they could not hold credible polls. So should they have
gone ahead and conducted the elections anyway? It is a tough question
and the decision to postpone was probably not taken lightly.

This is probably
one of the most anticipated election in Nigeria in recent times, an
election that has swallowed billions and billions of naira. This is an
umpire that has put his personal integrity on the line. A man who has
promised Nigerians in no uncertain terms that he will deliver the
fairest elections they have ever seen.

On the balance, it
would appear Mr. Jega and his team made the right decision. And there
can be no doubt that it was a bold and courageous move. It isn’t easy
to admit failure especially on such a national scale and for an
assignment of such importance. It might have been easier for Mr. Jega
to allow the elections to take place, flawed as the process was and try
to wiggle his way out of trouble later.

Whatever the issues
are that led to this debacle; it is hard to see how the electoral body
can fix them before tomorrow. Nonetheless, many Nigerians appear
prepared to give Mr. Jega and INEC the benefit of the doubt. So the
electoral body should be praying for a miracle because if they are
unable to give Nigerians the elections they want and deserve tomorrow,
many will be demanding for someone’s head and that would be right.

President Goodluck Jonathan
yesterday said he is confident that Nigeria will conduct credible
elections despite the postponement of Saturday’s polls.

Mr Jonathan, who
addressed journalists in his home town, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, after
his inability to complete his accreditation due to non-availability of
officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
voting materials, appealed to Nigerians to bear with the electoral body.

“If we must do
something, it is better to delay and do it well,” he said in reference
to INEC’s postponement of the National Assembly elections till Monday,
April 4.

Mr. Jonathan, who
commended the enthusiasm and commitment displayed by Nigerians who
trooped out and even travelled far to vote in spite of the
restrictions, pleaded with them to show understanding by enduring till
Monday.

“It is part of the
sacrifices required to conduct credible polls,” he said, saying he was
returning to Abuja but would get back to his village again to vote on
Monday.

On his part, Kano
State governor and presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples
Party, Ibrahim Shekarau expressed shock with the postponement. He also
called on Nigerians not to relent but still come out on Monday to cast
their votes.

Former Lagos State
governor and opposition ACN leader, Bola Tinubu however called for the
resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan. Mr. Tinubu, blamed the
problem on alleged interference of Mr. Jonathan’s cronies and federal
government agencies in the activities of the electoral body.

“Nigerians have
the right to vote and be voted for, and if you fail to achieve that
goal, the federal government should resign, period,” he said.

Femi Falana, a
Lagos–based lawyer, described the postponement of the election as a
national disgrace. He said the postponement is a sign that the nation
is still underdeveloped. According to him, importing election material
from another country is embarrassing.

He also doubted whether INEC will be able to pull off the election on the rescheduled date.

The Labour Party
candidate for Ondo South Senatorial District, Boluwaji Kunlere,
yesterday said the postponement of the election was worse than the
annulment of the 1993 election.

Mr Kunlere, who
spoke in Okitipupa Council, said the action of INEC has killed the
morale of Nigerians who came out to vote, noting that only God would
save Nigeria because, according to him, huge resources had been
committed to the election.

Jega did no wrong

While expressing
slight disappointment at the postponement of the election, Project 2011
SwiftCount, a coalition of civil society organisations spoke out in
support of Mr. Jega.

“Project 2011
Swift Count are peeved that today’s election could not be completed as
planned. But we support INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega’s difficult and
courageous decision to postpone the election until Monday. We believe
the decision is in the best interest of the people of Nigeria”, the
group states in a statement. “This had to be a very difficult decision
and it should have been made earlier, but it is the right decision for
Nigeria in the circumstances.”

Civil Right
Congress, a socio-democracy group has also supported the postponement.
President of the group, Shehu Sani, said his group’s observations show
that the elections was marred by problems of late delivery of
materials.

“An election
cannot be credible until it is conclusive and all inclusive. The
announced cancellation of the elections by INEC Chairman is inevitable
but could have been avoided,” he said.

However, he said, it will affect the morale and enthusiasm of Nigerians toward the election.

The Movement for
Democratic Change (MDS) also described the postponement as a “bitter
pill for credible process”. In a statement issued yesterday, the group
noted that “the decision was the best, given the challenges faced by
the commission if the sanctity of the electoral process were to be
protected”.

Politicians in
Bauchi State have condemned the postponement of the elections. The
National Publicity Secretary of ANPP, Comrade Muhammed Sabo said it was
unfortunate that INEC cancelled the elections.

Mr Sabo, who is
also the ANPP Candidate for the House of Representatives for Bauchi
Federal Constituency, described the action by INEC as “disappointing,
embarrassing and strange not only to the country but the country’s
image abroad”.

He said that the
postponement of the elections raised serious and critical questions on
whether Mr. Jega is fully prepared, determined, transparent and
credible to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

In his reaction, Bashir Othman Tofa of the ANPP said, “The
government must, as a matter of urgency, institute a high-powered
commission of inquiry into this shameful outing of the INEC. Those
found responsible, no matter how highly placed, must suffer the
consequences. Is this the new INEC that will ensure credible elections?
Our hopes are misplaced and our confidence shattered.”