Council of State resolves Polls should go on

The outcome of the meeting of the council which held at the Presidential Villa was eagerly awaited yesterday following speculation that government might influence the national body to get INEC to shift the date of elections.After a seven-hour meeting, the council asked the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to go ahead and perform its constitutional responsibility […]

The outcome of the meeting of the council which held at the Presidential Villa was eagerly awaited yesterday following speculation that government might influence the national body to get INEC to shift the date of elections.
After a seven-hour meeting, the council asked the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to go ahead and perform its constitutional responsibility of conducting the 2015 elections.
A source at the meeting told Daily Trust that all former heads of state at the meeting agreed that INEC’s plans should be respected.  But governors were divided along party lines.
He said the ruling PDP governors wanted the polls to be delayed but their counterparts in the opposition APC insisted it must proceed as scheduled.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State told reporters after the meeting that INEC assured the Council it was ready to conduct the elections and that the distribution of the permanent voter cards was going on well.
He said the INEC chairman assured the council that the commission was fully prepared to conduct the elections, more than it was in 2011.
“The Council of State advised INEC to go and performs its civic responsibility which is to conduct elections. That is what we rose to agree.
“It was a very challenging moment, and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready, but because of concerns of security agencies in some few local governments, the council asked INEC to go and perform their civic responsibilities which is the conduct of elections,” he said.
Asked if there was a decision on the need to change the date for the elections, Okorocha said: “There is no decision as to change of date or postponement at all … Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task. In-fact, they are more prepared now than they were in 2011.”
Asked if the report of the alleged resignation of Jega was discussed, he said: “No. Nothing like that was discussed.”
On whether he believes that the PDP and APC are not on the same page on the outcome of the meeting, Okorocha said: “As usual, we will not be on the same page on any issues of this nature.
“It is normal that some will be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we looked at the constitution of Nigeria; that is the only binding factor when there are issues of disagreement.
“The constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental law that guides the whole nation’s policies”.
He said the APC was definitely expecting the presidential election to hold on February 14 as scheduled.
Also speaking, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, said the discussion centred on the forthcoming polls.
Mimiko said Jega briefed the council on the state of preparedness of the INEC and he (Jega) also had “the privilege of getting the inputs and perspectives of members of the council on the elections.”
Mimiko said council members expressed their views on the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and card readers as well as on security issues.
He said the council members expressed opinions on the fact that seven days until the elections, 34 percent of the eligible voters were yet to get their PVCs.
Mimiko said Jega was advised to take advantage of the different perspectives of council members and take appropriate decision.
“Council of State in a meeting close to seven hours, essentially, the state of preparedness of INEC was on the table.
 “INEC had the benefit of inputs from council members and security chiefs and agencies. And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice, INEC which is constitutionally empowered on the basis of discussions will brief the nation and then the news will be communicated to you,” he said.
Mimiko said: “INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting we just had. INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision with which they will brief the nation soon.
“The council of state is essentially an advisory body. Mr. President in his wisdom has invited INEC to brief us on the state of preparedness.
“Based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC. For any avoidance of doubt, like I said, INEC had the benefit of inputs and perspectives from council members.”
He said issues discussed included the distribution of PVCs, card readers, voter education and security.
“He added, “All of these were discussed, but ultimately, the council being an advisory body, advised INEC to take advantage of the different perspective of council members to take decision about the elections”.
What Jega told council
Meanwhile, a source at the meeting told our correspondent that Jega told the council that the elections must hold as scheduled.
The source, a governor from South-West, told our correspondent that Jega told the council his commission was “fully ready” to conduct the elections.
The source said one of the Security chiefs at the meeting, however, said the federal government could not guarantee security in four north-eastern states of Yobe, Adamawa, Borno and Gombe.
Our correspondent reports that presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), retired General Muhammadu Buhari, was among the former leaders present at the meeting. Others were former heads of state Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Shehu Shagari and former head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was absent.
Also in attendance were Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyin Pius Anyim, National Security Adviser Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
The APC governors in attendance were Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulfatahi Ahmed (Kwara), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and the deputy governors of Oyo, Borno and Yobe States.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors at the meeting included those of Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Niger, Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ondo, Taraba, Delta, Enugu, Ekiti, Plateau, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe and Bauchi States as well as the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed.  
The Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, led other service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Sulaiman Abba, to the meeting.
Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justices Dahiru Mustapha and Alfa Bagore were also in attendance.
APC campaign hails decision
The National Council of State’s decision that rejected the proposed postponement of February general elections has averted a major political and constitutional crisis, the Buhari campaign office said yesterday.
It is a “triumph of the nation and its people over parochial individual and political interest,” the campaign media and publicity director Malam Garba Shehu said in a statement.
“We are heartened that a major crisis of political and constitutional nature has been averted which would have made Nigeria the laughing stock of the civilised world,” the opposition campaign office said.
The statement said the position adopted by the Council of State vindicates the position of millions of Nigerians who are ready and keen on the elections and who want to change the circumstances of the country.
It added that upholding the February 14, 2015 date and other scheduled dates for the election, confirms the sacrosanct nature of those dates as well as the May 29, 2015 handover date.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has always said it is ready for the polls, likewise all the security and intelligence agencies and more importantly, the Nigerian people, who are the voters. It would have been a terrible disservice, if on the basis of personal interest, the elections were postponed, it said.
The statement said: “No nation learns all the lessons of democracy at once thus it is the belief of our campaign that INEC, the electoral umpire still has the chance and is indeed determined and ready to organise credible polls next week and thereafter.
“We congratulate the masses of our people for the decision of the Council of State. This is a sure sign that Nigerian people are ready to sacrifice to back their country from the locusts which have turned it into a barren land.”
Also, the Progressive Governors Forum has said that it was satisfied with the outcome of the Council of State meeting.
A communique signed by Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Chairman of the forum expressed satisfaction with the assurance issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC and the National Security Adviser, NSA on the state of preparedness for the 14th and 28th February General elections.