Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru JegaThe Independent National Electoral Commission is adopting an uncompromising posture on its decision to conduct elections in six states of the federation in the January 2011 general poll in spite of opposition from the affected governors, where rerun elections had been held.In a SATURDAY PUNCH interview conducted on Thursday, the commission insisted that those who were not comfortable with the position of the commission ”that was taken in strict compliance with the electoral laws of the country” had the option to seek a legal interpretation in the courts.In a telephone interview with our correspondents, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that the commission was not under any pressure on the raging issue, which means that the tenure of the governors in the affected states would end on May 29, 2011.The six states are Ekiti; Bayelsa; Sokoto; Adamawa; Kogi; and Cross River.Idowu said that INEC would not be swayed by pressure from any quarters because the decision of the commission to conduct elections in the states next January was based on the constitution and the Electoral Act.He maintained that the position of INEC could only change if those opposed to it got another interpretation on the issue.Idowu said, ”INEC took this position based on the provisions of the law. The present leadership of INEC is absolutely not under any pressure on this issue because it has made it clear from the beginning that all its actions will be based on the Electoral Act.”The only option left to those who feel strongly about this issue is to take it up with the law. If they get another interpretation from the law court different from the present understanding, then that will be a different ball game.”But as things stand, INEC stands by this lawful act.”Meanwhile, the CPS to the INEC chairman said that while the Federal Government had released some fund to INEC to facilitate the smooth conduct of the election, not all the N87.7bn required for the exercise had been released.He said that the funds were being released in tranches accordance with the agreements reached with the FG on an agreed funding plan.”Before the funds were released, an agreement was reached with the Federal Government on a funding plan. What has been released is what INEC agreed with the government to release,” Idowu said.He however denied the widespread claims that the first set of equipment required for the conduct of the voter registration would arrive in the country in the next two weeks.Idowu said that the contracts for the equipment, which are critical to the conduct of the poll, were about being sealed.He added though that the time line set for the exercise would be adhered to in strict terms.INEC had on Wednesday announced through advertorials in some national newspapers that governorship elections would not hold in the five states.However, INEC listed the timeline for the elections in the remaining states, which would not be part of the January 2011 exercise.According to the advertorial titled, ‘Independent National Electoral Commission Conduct of Governorship Elections‘, the commission said elections would hold in Rivers (June 2011); Edo (July 2012); Ondo (November 2012); and Anambra (November 2014).
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