Reports coming in states the National Security Adviser, NSA has formally asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to postpone next week’s election.
DailyPost are revealing that the NSA are indicating that they can not guarantee peace in 14 local government areas in the North East.
DailyPost are revealing that the NSA are indicating that they can not guarantee peace in 14 local government areas in the North East.
Jega had earlier the Council of State meeting: “I am sure this August body will be appraised of the security situation for the elections by the responsible authority.
“Yesterday, for example, we received a letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser informing us of recent developments in four of the North-east states, stating that safety and security cannot be guaranteed during the proposed election period, adducing reasons why this is so, and strongly advising that INEC considers rescheduling the elections by at least six weeks within the provisions of the electoral legal framework, and within which time span, it is hoped to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to hold.
“This is a new development that INEC cannot certainly ignore or take lightly.
“I thank you for the opportunity to provide this briefing.”
Members of the council had immediately after Jega’s presentation reveal their concerns for or against the postponement of the election.
President Goodluck Jonathan had allegedly impressed it on those present that it would be necessary to shift the dates for the elections in order to guaranty the safety of voters, electoral officials and even security personnel in the North-east.
He was said to have expressed concern over one part of the country being left out of the polls.
This train of thought was also reported to be shared by Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, who spoke after the president, and other governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Meanwhile, APC governors have insisted that the polls must go ahead as planned.
They argued that heightened insecurity in about 14 Boko Haram-occupied local government areas out of 774 in the country should not stop the elections from going ahead as scheduled.
However, ex-military heads of state, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, alongside a former Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Moddibo Alfa Belgore told Jega to not postpone the elections.
