Election Postponement causes division federal lawmakers

Members of the House of Representatives were sharply divided on Sunday
over the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to
shift the general elections by six weeks, beginning from March 28.
Anger was the word in the camp of the caucus of the All Progressives
Congress as they did not only oppose the shift of the elections but
also accused INEC of being a puppet in the hands of the Presidency.
The APC caucus also claimed that insecurity as a major excuse given by
INEC was a cover-up for the alleged "hidden interests" of the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party.
But, the PDP caucus embraced the postponement and commended INEC for
having the courage to "do the right thing by not denying millions of
Nigerians their right to vote."
Findings also showed that the PDP caucus was plotting to stop the
commission from using its Card Reader for Permanent Voter Cards during
the elections.
INEC disappoints
Expressing annoyance over the shift of the polls, House Minority
Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said INEC disappointed Nigerians.
Gbajabiamila said, "A deeper analysis and closer scrutiny reveals a
lot more. It reveals perhaps the proverbial hand of Esau and voice of
Jacob. A complete about-turn barely 24 hours after INEC said clearly
in a presentation to the National Council of State that it was ready
says a lot.
"The independence of INEC has been put to question because the sum
total of what we heard from INEC now is that its powers to determine
election dates have been usurped and the military now determines when
we can have elections in this country.
"That is a dangerous precedent. Many questions are raised: Should the
military be the ones to provide election security? What exactly then
is the role of police in a civil society?
"The role being ascribed to the military for election purposes is
ultra vires and unconstitutional. That role belongs to the police and
we all know the police are not overstretched in the North-East."
While rejecting the reasons tendered by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, for postponing the election, the APC leader argued that his
understanding of the development was the case of a "government in
power running away from elections."
A right step
However, the PDP House Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, argued
that INEC did the right thing by "stopping on time from plunging the
country into a major political crisis."
Ogor said that had INEC gone ahead to conduct the poll "with many
Nigerians yet to collect their PVCs," the outcome would have continued
to haunt the commission and its leadership.
He said, "The main issue here is the PVC. INEC would have denied
millions of Nigerians their constitutional right to vote had they
proceeded with the elections.
"You cannot tell me that because majority of voters have PVC, then
others have become inconsequential. So, why did they register to vote?
The majority will have their way, but the minority must still have
their say.
"That is the only way we can begin to talk about justice and fairness,
else it is a wrong step that will continue to haunt the nation."
Doubts over March 28
House Minority Whip, Mr. Sampson Osagie, kicked against the
postponement and expressed doubts on whether there would be any
elections on March 28.
"The decision to shift elections is too sad. The elections may never
hold after all because the security agencies will never guarantee the
security of men and materials.
"This is obviously a PDP-induced decision. I weep for my country
Nigeria," Osagie stated in an electronic mail to our correspondent on
Sunday.
Jonathan not involved
Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr. Jerry Manwe, said
it was unlikely that President Goodluck Jonathan influenced the
decision of INEC.
Manwe, who incidentally, is a member of the Social Democratic Party,
noted that INEC became helpless soon after security reports did not
support the conduct of the poll.
The lawmaker, who is from Taraba State, said Nigerians kicking against
the postponement needed to visit the North-East to really appreciate
what the people of the zone faced daily.
He said, "Insecurity is the key issue; I am sure if people are to die
because they have to vote, that is more serious than the elections.
"The National Security Adviser and the service chiefs are in a
position to know the security situation of the North-East. The
North-East is in trouble and you have to be there to appreciate what
is happening.
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"Jonathan is not the issue; he didn't influence INEC because up till
yesterday (Saturday), he was busy campaigning, which means that he
expected that the elections would still be held on February 14th as
earlier fixed."
House spokesman, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, accused the Presidency of
allegedly "manipulating INEC" to play a prepared script.
Postponing evil day
Mohammed, who warned against the consequences of using the "military
for political reasons", added that the PDP-led Federal Government was
merely "postponing the evil day."
He said, "It appears some persons have other interests other than the
overall interest of Nigeria.
"What they have done is to politicise the military to use insecurity
as their reason for shifting the polls.
"However, they are merely shifting the evil day; very soon, the
chickens will come home to roost and we will see who laughs last."
Meanwhile, there were indications on Sunday that PDP lawmakers were
against the introduction of card readers by INEC.
Ogor confirmed to a source that several motions on the elections
would be brought to the floor by members as from February 17.
He said, "INEC has not tested the card reader in any previous election
to know whether it is reliable or not.
"Why use the presidential and National Assembly polls as the guinea
pig for the card reader? Do they want to mess up the elections?
"We are coming to discuss it on the floor and there are a whole lot of
issues surrounding this postponement to be resolved."
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