Presidential, National Assembly Elections Hold February 14, 2015
Governorship, assembly poll for February 28
Ekiti - June 21, 2014; Osun - Aug 9, 2014
By Chuks Okocha, Omololu Ogunmade, Onyebuchi Ezeigbo, Shola Oyeyipo , Toba Suleiman and Yinka Kolawole
Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 14, 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced.
In a three-paragraph statement released last night, the commission, also fixed governorship and State Assembly elections for February 28, 2015.
It also slated the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States for June 21 and August 9, 2014 respectively. Both states had their 2007 governorship elections annulled by the courts and the tenure of the incumbent governors commenced almost four years ago.
The commission's statement signed by its Secretary, Augusta Ogakwu, said the release of the time table was the outcome of a retreat in Kaduna.
With the release of time table for the general elections, analysts believe that INEC has technically given its nod to the commencement of electioneering campaign.
The tempo of political activities is therefore expected to increase across the country as politicians begin to declare their interest in elective offices in the coming days and weeks.
Reactions are however trailing the release of the time-table by the commission. Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, said the election time table was appropriate and in accordance with the 2010 Electoral Act.
Speaking in a telephone conversation with THISDAY, Enang who said INEC had the right to fix and determine the sequence of elections, added that unless the amendment to 2010 Electoral Act currently being done in the National Assembly, provides for anything contrary, INEC had done well by choosing to give politicians 13 months notice.
"INEC's action is in accordance with the law. The law allows INEC to fix time table and sequence of elections. Before releasing the time table, it had looked at the Electoral Act. So, INEC has the right to fix election dates. It has done nothing contrary to Electoral Act.
"What it did was within the law. Until the amendment to Electoral Act is passed, it has acted within the law. The schedule of elections was one of INEC's requests for amendments in the Electoral Act. They have only notified the public. They have the right to notify politicians until the amendment is passed. It is good that 13 months notice has been given," he said.
The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu in his reaction said the commission should guide against any arrangement that would give any party undue advantage over others.
"We have not seen it (time-table) but it is good the election time table came out on time so we will be able to study it. We need to study it but let me say that our party will be particularly concerned about the sequence of the elections. INEC should not fix the elections in such a way as to give one party undue advantage or to create a bandwagon effect.
He however said, "It is unfortunate that INEC did not consult with political parties to get our views and suggestions before making public the timetable. It is not that the commission is bound to do so but I feel that the views parties would have helped in shaping things properly."
On its part the APC, said it was yet to get the full details of the time-table to enable it make an informed comment on it. The party's interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who spoke to THISDAY last night, said the leadership of the party would have to study the timetable and make necessary consultations before taking a position.
"How can we comment on what we have not seen? Our party has a structure. We need to look at it. The party is yet to see a copy of it. When it gets to the party, the party will look at it and make its position known at an appropriate time", Mohammed said.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said his party was ready for the election and would sensitize Nigerians across the country.
"Our reaction is very simple. It is an indication of democracy in action. Our party is ready. We are going to sensitise Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country to get set for the election. We are not unmindful of the opposition; whether they want to mobilise their members or not to participate in the process, but democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and the PDP will participate in the process", he said.
Former acting National Secretary of the PDP, Chief Remi Akintoye, said the announcement of the timetable was a welcome development, adding that, "It is an indication that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is competent. It also shows that it has always shown fairplay. Though there might have been mistakes. The body even went ahead to promise that there would be no ballot snatching. We are expecting that it would be fair. It will make Jonathan win the election. My premonition is premised on the fact that he has done so many good things in the past.
In Ekiti, where the governorship election would hold on June 21 2014, APC Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Segun Dipe, said, "as far as APC is concerned, about the June 21 date for the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, we don't have problem. We have always been saying it that no date the INEC announced for the election that we would be caught napping.
"The APC is happy about the date because we have always been prepared for it. What we can only advise INEC is that it should not allow what happened in Anambra and other places to repeat itself in Ekiti State.Election in Ekiti State should be a litmus test for INEC in the conduct of free, fair and credible election."
Ekiti PDP Vice Chairman, Hon Femi Bamisile, on his part maintained that his part had no problem with the date, "because we are sure that we are coming on top without any shadow of doubt. We have 99.9 per cent assurance that PDP will win the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.
Labour Party Chairman in Ekiti, Akin Omole, commended the leadership of INEC for the announcement of the date, which, he said, showed their readiness to conduct a credible election in the state.
"Our preparations for the election had started long time ago since we know an election is coming up this year. We have always been ready. As a true politician you must be ready at all time. Why we are all prepared for the election, I can only advise members of other parties to play the game in accordance with the rule", he said.
Reacting to the release of the time table. Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, said he was fully prepared win. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, said Aregbesola was always ready for any election. He however urged INEC not to betray the people of the state by allowing malpractice.
An Osun state PDP governorship aspirant, Hon. Wole Oke, also welcomed the release of the timetable saying he was ready to dislodge Aregbesola from Government House.
Another aspirant in the state, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, also welcome the announcement and praised INEC for choosing the August date.
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