Apparently angered by comments attributed to Atahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, blaming the National Assembly for the delay in releasing the 2011 election timetable, the Senate yesterday resolved to summon him.
The Senate reached the decision after Kanti Bello (PDP, Katsina State) drew attention of his colleagues to media reports in which Mr. Jega purportedly criticised the lawmakers’ slow pace on both the second amendment to the Constitution and the first amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act.
Mr. Jega had on Monday, in Abuja, while receiving a delegation of heads of the European Union (EU), said the amendment of the act would ensure timely implementation of the commission’s master plan. According to him, the demand for extension of time for the election is not intended to shift the May 29 handover date.
“It is to allow for good work to be done, and to remove any controversy that may affect the electoral process. Quick amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act is among the challenges currently confronting the commission’s determination to carry out its registration implementation plan and ensure credible elections in 2011 and beyond.
“Delay in amendment of the Electoral Act will affect the implementation of the master plan. INEC needs clear legal framework to proceed with implementation of the plan,” he said.
Unfair Utterances
David Mark, the Senate president, described Mr. Jega’s utterances as unfair. He said that the legislators had, at some points in the past, waived bureaucracy or cut into their personal times to ensure the election management body gets all it needs to organise a credible free and fair election in 2011.
“We have done everything humanly possible for INEC. If the allegations are true, Jega owes us an explanation,” the Senate president said.
Mr. Mark revealed that INEC’s budget that was passed in a hurry in July was in excess of about N19 billion, but the lawmakers went ahead to pass it, “just to make sure they get everything they needed.”
Other senators condemned the statement and said it was a conspiracy against the National Assembly. They accused INEC of inefficiency, saying that till date, INEC has not been able to acquire the data capturing machines to be used for the voters’ registration, even though they have all the money for it.
Ayogu Eze, the spokesman of the Senate, believed the statement was meant to tarnish the image of the National Assembly..
“They are preparing the grounds to heap the blame on the National Assembly if they fail,” he said, adding that the current timetable, which INEC is seeking an amendment to, was initially suggested by the National Assembly.
Despite the misgivings, the Senate passed the second amendment to 1999 Constitution through first reading and promised to meet up with their initial pledge to conclude the amendments before the end of the month.
According to Mr. Eze, they had met with both Speakers of the state Houses of Assemblies and governors to help speed up the passage of the second amendment to the constitution, when it is sent down to them later in the month.
Mr. Eze, was, however, evasive about the contents of the Electoral Act amendment bill. There are speculations about a plot by the president to tinker with some provisions of the current act, to allow him appoint his ministers and other political appointees as delegates in party primaries.
Mr. Eze also denied allegations that members of the National Assembly have been bribed to let the amendment pass.
“I find it rather distressing that we are back to old tactics to discredit some people. If there are people who want some particular views to be put for them in the Electoral Act, they should lobby their representatives rather than resort to cheap blackmail,” Mr. Eze said.
No date has been fixed for Mr. Jega’s appearance before the National Assembly.
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