by Chi Ibe
YNaija can confirm that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega has yet to make a final decision to postpone the elections. Jega is presently in a marathon meeting with his commissioners and then civil society to make a decision on whether to postpone the elections.
Media reports have indicated that a decision has in fact been made, and – considering armoured tanks stationed in Lagos and Abuja today – those reports appear to have remit.
However, speaking this afternoon by SMS to a senior official of INEC who is involved in today’s meeting and requested anonymity, our reporter confirmed that the INEC chairman is torn between postponing the elections
“Chairman is stil vry confused,” he said. “We have just taken break for him to consult d oda guys. He doesn’t want 2 postpone, but d pressire from these people is 2 much. Meeting is on.”
In a phone discussion earlier this morning before the meetings began, this official had set the tone for today’s decision: “After the letter from security chiefs and calls from people in the Presidency, (the) chairman feels they want to blame him if people die from violence in the elections, and whatever it is, his determination is to leave these elections with his reputation intact.”
It is unclear who the “other guys” are in the text message, however YNaija investigation confirms immense pressure from the Presidency to postpone the elections.
“The President has completely lost confidence in INEC,” said one of the President’s advisers yesterday. This official also works actively in the PDP campaign. “People close to him have convinced him that APC is working with INEC to push him out, and now he is determined to do everything to stop that.”
The president’s spokesman confirmed this with a press conference to push for the postponement of elections. Other spokespeople on traditional and social media have also pushed the official line, calling for postponement of the elections due to insecurity and the huge challenges INEC has had with Permanent Voters Card distribution.
“Jega has failed,” said Musiliu Obanikoro, former minister of state for defense on Lagos radio station, Classic FM an hour ago. The PDP politician who was yesterday indicted in an leaked audio planning to rig the Ekit governorship elections made it clear where he stands: “Jega needs to resign.”
this is the big problem that Nigeria will in when this election postponed because they the will said they can destroyed boko haram within 6 weeks remember the years that we have left since 2011 boko haram was disturbing Nigeria why the did not destroyed them in this years ago since this time when election is to be held then they said they need six weeks.so we civilian we won’t the election to be held in 14 February 2015.