Council Of State Says Elections Should Go As Planned If INEC Thinks It's Ready

The National Council of State on Thursday reaffirmed the sole power of
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain or amend
the election timetable. The council therefore refused to pressurise
the INEC to shift the election dates despite calls from several
quarters for the postponement of the polls.

The meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at
the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, lasted about seven hours.
The council, at the end of the meeting, resolved that INEC should
consider its advice and take necessary steps on the conduct of the
election.

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who briefed State House
correspondents at the end of the meeting, alongside his Imo and
Adamawa states counterparts, Rochas Okorocha and James Ngilari, noted
that the council was essentially an advisory body, but the electoral
body would brief the nation on its final decision.

Mimiko said the council essentially deliberated on the state of
preparedness of INEC and provided the commission the benefit of input
from council members and security chiefs and agencies.

"Based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice, INEC is
constitutionally empowered to brief the nation and then the news will
be communicated to you," he said.

"INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a
decision on which it will brief the nation soon."

Mimiko observed that President Jonathan summoned the meeting to enable
INEC brief the council on its preparedness, saying "based on what INEC
briefed us and based on perception of council members and security
agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC."

Okorocha, in his remarks, said INEC had assured of its readiness for
the election and had, therefore, been advised to perform its civic
responsibility. He said the body had assured of its readiness for the
election.

"National Council of State advised INEC to go and perform its civic
responsibility, which is to conduct elections. That is what we agreed
on.

"It was a very challenging moment and INEC has reaffirmed severally
that it is ready, but because of concerns of security agencies in some
few local governments, council asked INEC to go and perform its civic
responsibilities, which is the conduct of elections."

Asked if there was a decision on date change, he added that "there is
no decision as to change of date, but the council has asked INEC to go
and perform its responsibility."

Former leaders of the country present at the meeting were General
Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General
Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Earnest Shonekan and General Abdulsalami
Abubakar.

The Senate President, David Mark was also present, as well as Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; former Chief Justices
of the Federation, Justice Alfa Belgore and Dahiru Musdapher.

State governors present were James Ngilari (Adamawa), Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso (Kano); Rauf Aregebsola (Osun); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Umaru
Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa); Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto); Willie Obiano of
Anambra and Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

Others were Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa),
Idris Wada (Kogi), Rotimi Ameachi (Rivers), Mukhtar Ramalan Yero
(Kaduna), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abubakar
Yari (Zamfara) Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Ibrahim Shehu Shema of
Katsina.

Also present were Mimiko (Ondo); David Jang (Plateau); Liyel Imoke
(Cross Rivers); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi);
Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Emmanuel Uduaghan
(Delta); Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe.

Borno, Yobe, Abia and Oyo state governors were represented by their
deputies. Taraba State acting governor, Danladi Abubakar, was present,
while Benue, Ebonyi and Kebbi governors were neither present nor
represented.

Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of
Army Staff, Lieutenant -General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff,
Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Admiral Adesola Amosu (Air Force); Suleiman
Abba, Inspector-General of Police; Ita Ekpeyong, Director-General,
SSS; National Security Adviser, Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, were
also present.

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, was the only living former
Nigerian leader absent at the meeting.
--VOFNImo