by Panshak Ibrahim

According to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, a further postponement of Nigeria’s general elections beyond the rescheduled polling day of March 28 would be against the constitution.

Jega was invited by the Senate on Wednesday, February 18, to speak on the election postponement. He told the lawmakers that INEC was ready to hold the elections on February 14, but was however, persuaded to postpone the polls, by the country’s security chiefs.

While being grilled by the senators on how he would respond if security agencies requested a further delay, Jega stated that the constitution requires elections to be concluded at least 30 days before May 29, when a new government must be sworn in.

He said: “I don’t see how anybody can contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks because there is no constitutional grounds on which you can do that.”

“Every Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a constitutional timeframe. The security agencies are (made up of) patriotic Nigerians. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.”

Speaking further, Jega added that a further delay “will only have to be unconstitutional and I don’t see how anybody can contemplate unconstitutional things.”

The INEC boss revealed that about one million permanent voters cards are yet to be produced, adding that 75.95 per cent of registered voters have collected their permanent voters cards.

He told the lawmakers that if a card reader does not work in a particular polling unit, it would be replaced or the election in the polling unit would be postponed to the next day.

While speaking on the importance of using card readers for the election, Jega said: “The use of card readers is one of the innovations introduced by INEC‎ to improve the election process. The card readers are not used for voting.”

“They are used to improve the integrity of the election process, and it is for accreditation. Using the card readers has enormous advantages. It can only read‎ INEC cards, it authenticates the identity of registered voters, and the information is sent to the central server for analysis.”

The INEC chairman assured the senators that before March 28th, the remaining PVCs will be ready for distribution.

He added that with the postponement of the elections, the commission has been afforded more time to properly prepare for the polls.

Kolapo Olapoju