STATEMENT ON THE TIMETABLE FOR 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS BY THE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU M. JEGA, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 07th, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction
We invited you here today to make known the position of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the timetable for
the 2015 general elections. Let me state from the outset that the
Commission’s position was reached after carefully weighing the
suggestions from briefings held with different stakeholders in the
electoral process.
The conduct of elections in a country like Nigeria is invariably a
collective venture that involves not just the Election Management Body
(EMB), but also a diverse range of stakeholders, notably security
agencies, political parties and their candidates, voters, as well as interest
groups, such as the civil society organizations and the media. To
guarantee successful conduct of elections, there are things that are
wholly the responsibility of the EMB. But there are other things critical
for the success of elections, which fall outside the control of the EMB.
In other words, while INEC must work hard to perfect its systems and
processes for conducting elections, and take responsibility for any
imperfections thereof, whatever the Commission does may not by itself
be sufficient to guarantee the success of elections. There are a number of
issues in the preparation and conduct of an election, the most critical of
which is security, which is not under the control of INEC.
Current State of INEC’s Preparedness
On Thursday, February 5, 2015, I was invited to brief the National Council
of State, which is the highest advisory to the President comprising past
and present leaders in Nigeria, on the level of preparedness of INEC to
conduct the 2015 general elections. I made a presentation to the Council
titled ‘Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report,’ in
which I gave a detailed account of what the Commission has been doing
in readiness for the national elections (National Assembly and
Presidential) scheduled for February 14th, and the state elections
(Governorship and State Assembly) scheduled for February 28th, 2015.
The summary of my presentation to the National Council of State meeting
is that, for matters under its control, INEC is substantially ready for the
general elections as scheduled, despite discernible challenges being
encountered with some of its processes like the collection of Permanent
Voter Cards (PVCs) by registered members of the public.
In addition, INEC has been doing everything it can to facilitate the
collection of the PVCs by registered members of the public. As at 5th
February 2015, the total number of PVCs collected was 45, 829, 808,
representing 66.58% of the total number of registered voters.
In the delivery and deployment of electoral materials, INEC is also at a
comfort level in its readiness for the general elections as scheduled (see
the presentation to the Council of State). The Commission’s preparations
are not yet perfect or fully accomplished. But our level of preparedness,
despite a few challenges, is sufficient to conduct free, fair and credible
elections as scheduled on February 14th and February 28th. Compared
with 2011 when, within a short time, we conducted general elections that
were universally adjudged free, fair and credible and the best in Nigeria’s
recent electoral history, our processes are today better refined, more
robust and therefore capable of delivering even better elections.
Other Variables
But as I mentioned earlier, there are some other variables equally crucial
for successful conduct of the 2015 general elections that are outside the
control of INEC. One important variable is security for the elections.
While the Commission has a very good working relationship with all
security agencies, especially on the platform of the Inter-agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) since its inception
in 2010, it has become pertinent for it to seriously consider the security
advisory presented to it by the Security and Intelligence Services. I would
like to reiterate here that INEC is an EMB and not a security agency. It
relies on the security services to provide a safe environment for
personnel, voters, election observers and election materials to conduct
elections wherever it deploys. Where the security services strongly advise
otherwise, it would be unconscionable of the Commission to deploy
personnel and call voters out in such a situation.
Last Wednesday, which was a day before the Council of State meeting,
the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) wrote a letter to the
Commission, drawing attention to recent developments in four Northeast
states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe currently experiencing the
challenge of insurgency. The letter stated that security could not be
guaranteed during the proposed period in February for the general
elections.
This advisory was reinforced at the Council of State meeting on Thursday
where the NSA and all the Armed Services and Intelligence Chiefs
unanimously reiterated that the safety and security of our operations
cannot be guaranteed, and that the Security Services needed at least six
weeks within which to conclude a major military operation against the
insurgency in the Northeast; and that during this operation, the military
will be concentrating its attention in the theatre of operations such that
they may not be able to provide the traditional support they render to the
Police and other agencies during elections.
INEC’s Decision
We have done wide ranging consultation to enable us have as much
input as is necessary before taking an informed decision.
In the series of consultations that we held with stakeholders, the
questions consistently posed to them for consideration are:
In view of the latest development, should INEC proceed with the conduct
of the general elections as scheduled in spite of this strong advice; and
if so, what alternative security arrangements are available to be put in
place? Or, should INEC take the advice and adjust the schedules of the
general elections within the framework of Constitutional provisions?
The Commission held a meeting after the consultations, and decided to
take the advice of the Security Chiefs and adjust the dates of the
elections. We have done this relying on Section 26(1) of the Electoral
2010 (As Amended), which states thus: “Where a date has been appointed
for the holding of an election, and there is reason to believe that a
serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded
with on that date or it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result
of natural disasters or other emergencies, the Commission may postpone
the election and shall in respect of the area, or areas concerned, appoint
another date for the holding of the postponed election, provided that
such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable”.
INEC not being a security agency that could by itself guarantee protection
for personnel and materials, as well as voters during elections, the
Commission cannot lightly wave off the advice by the nation’s Security
Chiefs.
The Commission is specifically concerned about the security of our ad
hoc staff who constitute at least 600,000 young men and women,
together with our regular staff, voters, election observers as well as
election materials painstakingly acquired over the last one and half
years. This concern is limited not just to the areas in the North-eastern
part of Nigeria experiencing insurgency; the risk of deploying young men
and women and calling people to exercise their democratic rights in a
situation where their security cannot be guaranteed is a most onerous
responsibility.
Under such circumstances, few EMBs across the world, if any, would
contemplate proceeding with the elections as scheduled. No matter the
extent of INEC’s preparedness, therefore, if the security of personnel,
voters, election observers and election materials cannot be guaranteed,
the life of innocent young men and women as well the prospects of free,
fair, credible and peaceful elections would be greatly jeopardised.
Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the 2015
general elections thus: the national elections (i.e. Presidential and
National Assembly) are now to hold on March 28th, 2015; while the state
elections (Governorship and State Assembly) are to hold on April 11th,
2015. It should be noted that this rescheduling falls within the
constitutional framework for the conduct of the elections, notably,
Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2). See also Section 25 of the
Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
For the avoidance of doubt, we will under no circumstances approve an
arrangement that is not in line with the provisions of our laws. Our hope
is that with this rescheduling, the security services will do their best to
ensure that the security environment needed for safe and peaceful
conduct of the 2015 elections is rapidly put in place.
We in INEC reassure all Nigerians and indeed the international community
of our commitment to do everything within the law and to conduct free,
fair, credible and peaceful elections. We call on the security agencies to
honour their commitment to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to
take place within the period of extension. We also call on Nigerians,
political parties, candidates and all other stakeholders to accept this
decision in good faith and ensure the maintenance of peace.
As for us in INEC we’ll endeavour to use the period of the extension to
keep on perfecting our systems and processes for conducting the best
elections in Nigeria’s history. In particular, we believe that we would
resolve all outstanding issues related to non-collection of PVCs, which
agitate the minds of many Nigerians.
Finally, we wish to call on all Nigerians to accept our decision, which is
taken in good faith and the best interest of deepening democracy ion our
country.
Thank you.
Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR
Chairman, INEC