PRESS RELEASE
INEC RESCHEDULES 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced the rescheduling of the 2011 National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) elections from April 2nd to April 4th 2011 due to late arrival of result sheets. Since that announcement, 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 organizations. 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 as follows:
- Saturday, April 9th 2011 – Senate and House of Representatives (National Assembly) elections.
- Saturday, April 16th 2011 – Presidential election
- Tuesday, April 26th 2011 – State House of Assembly and Governorship elections
We thank all Nigerians for their enthusiasm for these elections and support for the Commission and the electoral process. Your sacrifices are not lost on the Commission and we are even more determined now to ensure that the 2011 elections are free, fair and credible.
ABDULLAHI A. KAUGAMA
SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION
APRIL 3RD, 2011
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALUKO COMMENTARY
Way to go, INEC - although I would have preferred that given that the Presidential election is a little easier to handle (being just one ballot paper) than the National Assembly elections, the Presidential should have been allowed to go on, and then more time would be available to carry out the re-scheduled National Assembly elections, followed by the State Assembly elections.
But nothing spoil with the new schedule. However, the political parties and candidates should be more PRO-ACTIVE and must DEMAND not only more daily updates of progress in materials dissemination, but also (as required by the Electoral Law):
- provision of the VOTERS' REGISTER in the hands, by DVD (there should be no issue of missing names)
- publication of samples of ballot papers (there should be no issue of missing logos)
So my people, let us give INEC all our support - and pray hard too. We have no choice - what has happened has happened.
There we have to have it - for now.
Bolaji Aluko
APRIL 2, 2011
ADDRESS BY INEC CHAIRMAN JEGA ON POSTPONEMENT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
DEAR COMPATRIOTS
Since this Commission started work in July 2010, I have repeatedly promised Nigerians that in carrying out our duties we shall always be sincere and truthful with Nigerians. I have always said that this INEC will be upfront with Nigerians, telling you exactly how things are – sharing both our successes and difficulties with you.
This is one such occasion. Indeed, it is an emergency. As you know the National Assembly (House of Representatives and Senate) elections are supposed to be taking place as I speak. You would also have noticed that things have not proceeded smoothly as expected with the elections. The reason for this is the 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. Accordingly, in many places, our officials have not reported at the polling units, making it now difficult to implement the Modified Open Ballot Procedure that we have adopted. Not only do we have to enter the results in the sheets, the number of accredited voters is also to be entered in the result sheet. While we could have proceeded with the elections in a few States of the country, where all the materials are available, such as Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Delta, Zamfara and Enugu, among others, in order to maintain the integrity of the elections and retain effective overall control of the process, the Commission has taken the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the National Assembly elections to Monday, April 4, 2011.
I appeal to all Nigerians for their understanding in this difficult situation. We as a Commission appreciate the profound sacrifice that you have all made not just in turning out today, but also throughout this election season. We are greatly encouraged by you and our appeal is that you remain steadfast in this last lap of this electoral process in the interest of all Nigerians and in the cause of democracy.
The Commission will immediately be contacting all political parties, as major stakeholders to explain the situation. I appeal for their support in explaining the situation to their members and supporters.
May I also appeal to all other stakeholders, particularly national and international observers and our development partners for continued understanding. I realize that they have committed enormous resources to this process, especially in deploying observers in the field. However, we think that what is worth doing is worth doing well.
Finally, while we deeply regret this situation and apologise to Nigerians for the hardship this may have created, I would like to reiterate that we are fully committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections for Nigerians. The decision the Commission has taken is weighty; but it is also a very important step in further ensuring the credibility of the elections.
Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR,
Honourable Chairman
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALUKO COMMENTARY
Now that this wholesale cancellation is confirmed, INEC should move to the next stage of redeeming its temporarily (?) battered image.
But should the elections have POSTPONED only till Monday - leaving today and Sunday (till midnight) - to make the difference, and making Monday a public holiday for people to troop out again - or why not till next week Saturday, so that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are now held on the same day? Would a FULL WEEK of preparation - and the mere supply of one more ballot paper without requiring an additional day for voters to show up - be better, than risking another failure on Monday?
Inquiring minds want to know.
By the way: When certain materials were not in place by MIDNIGHT last night, elections should have been cancelled by Jega BY 8 am this morning. Also, more timely and authoritative information POLLING-UNIT by POLLING UNIT should be available on INEC's website always......
A sad day.....but there is hope. What else can there be but hope? We hope - or we die as a nation.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
Shaking his head while going back to:
- watching Man United get demolished by West Ham (0-2 at half time)
- watching the World Cricket Match between India and Sri Lanka (starting in 20 minutes)
- enjoying the rest of my birthday today (I am 25 years old several times over - plus some)
- preparing for Otuoke (where the President GEJ must now stay till Monday to vote)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__._,_.___![Yahoo! Groups]()
.![]()
__,_._,___
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
No comments:
Post a Comment