NLC, NBA, Others Demand Shift Of 2011 Elections

There are indications that elections may not hold as expected in Nigeria following lack of logistics on ground for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections next year.

The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Abdulwahab Omar has called for the shift of the next year polls from January to April to enable INEC produce credible voters register and procurement of  necessary electoral materials needed to conduct free and fair elections.

“We believe that INEC needs more time to be able to conduct an election that would be largely acceptable. We believe that there is the need for a new voter register, because the current one produced the worst elections in the history of the nation. We will push for an extension of time within which to conduct next year’s election”.

Omar said.

The NLC boss also urged the national assembly to ”to ensure that all the funds necessary

for the conduct of the elections be released to the commission and not in piecemeal and as

at when due.”

Recall that the INEC boss Jega had declared at his maiden press conference on the job

that “Following extensive consultations with experts in electronic voters registration and

logistics, as well as manufacturers and vendors of electronic data capture equipment in the

past three weeks, our assessment is that it will cost between N55 billion and N72 billion to conduct a credible compilation of a new voters register between August and November.

Other agencies and associations like Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Transitional Monitoring Group (TMG) and other civil societies group are also buying the idea of the poll extension.

These groups believe in order to avoid “’national calamity” and to restore confidence of

voters in the electoral process, the amended Sections 132 and 178 of the Constitution which now provide that elections must hold between 120 to 150 days to the expiration of

the tenure of the incumbent political office holders, should be deferred to 2015.

Reports reaching African Examiner indicate that the clamour for the poll shift is also

receiving favourable nod from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the political

camp of President Goodluck Jonathan. The shift would enable the PDP more time to put its house together on the issue of zoning which has largely polarised the party.

Meanwhile, the Senate has re-assured Nigerians that elections will hold in January 2011 in compliance with the amended Electoral Act in spite of doubts expressed in some quarters.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu gave the assurance while addressing National Assembly correspondents in Abuja.

“We have provided the law that will bring about free, fair and credible elections in 2011 and we expect that INEC should be ready to conduct free and fair elections too.

“We also expect the executive to ensure that there is free, fair and credible elections. INEC on its part is also expected to display fairness, equity and integrity that will also help us to say to ourselves that we have done well after the 2011 elections,” he said.