Friday, April 8, 2011
No polls in 63 districts, Districts
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| jega |
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Thursday the postponement of elections to the National Assembly in 15 senatorial districts and 48 constituencies spread across 27 federal states of the federation.
INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, made the announcement while addressing journalists on the preparation of the polling commission postponed tomorrow.
Jega said that change is imperative to enable the Commission to print additional ballots to meet the shortage that resulted from their use in the botched April 2 polls.
He added that the shift, the logos of political parties that were missing from ballot papers would now be inserted into the new ones that would be re-presented.
THE PUNCH had exclusively reported on Tuesday that INEC may shift in some polls and federal senatorial districts as a result of the use of ballots in areas where elections were held before they were suddenly arrested .
Some of the parties whose logos were omitted included the Congress for progressive change, the Labour Party, the Party Agreement, the peoples of the Progressive Alliance and the Congress for Democratic Change.
According to a list available to journalists, the states most affected by the change in Senate elections are: Ekiti and Plateau, where the three senatorial districts were affected.
For the concurrence of the House of Representative, the polls will not hold in five federal ridings in Ogun and Kaduna states each.
In Ekiti, Delta, Lagos, Kano, Gombe and Anambra states, the election will not hold in three federal districts each.
Jega said: "For example, in some areas a good amount of ballots had been used and it is not possible to reprint the ballots enough replacement before the election.
"So in some constituencies, party names and logos are missing on the ballot.
"Although some of these licenses to human error in compiling the names of qualified candidates and parties for the elections, others are related to sudden changes from judgments on party nominations.
"These challenges require that ballots be printed prior to fresh elections."
He said that INEC had worked hard to get these ballots printed on time.
Jega said: "Given the security requirements for the printing of ballots and the failure of national and international companies to deliver on time, it became imperative that sufficient time be given for the printing of these ballots to vote.
"Therefore, while the election will generally take place next Saturday, it became inevitable to postpone the elections in some constituencies affected, representing 15 senatorial districts and 48 federal ridings."
He said the board has reviewed the situation and the failures that led to the abortive attempt to organize elections and proposed measures to prevent a recurrence.
He said the commission since last Saturday has worked tirelessly to address the deficiencies noted.
He said: "This result sheets were not only delivered in the country, but were received by state and local governments nationwide.
"Similarly, the necessary election materials to other state and local governments areas have been provided.
"The logistical challenges have been taken and we had further consultations with political parties, security services and other stakeholders to address other challenges that emerged Saturday.
"Therefore, everything is now set for the elections of the National Assembly to exercise throughout the country on Saturday."
In addition, Jega noted that the Committee observed that the governors of several states ignored calls not to go round voting units with police escort army during the April 2 polls.
Therefore, he reiterated his call, adding that the police high command had been duly informed and was ready to act.
He also urged parents and community leaders to keep their minor children, away from polling stations because any minor who tried to vote were arrested and prosecuted.
The INEC boss implored political parties to be orderly and peaceful during the elections, adding that voters who chose to stay after the vote must act with dignity.
He noted that arrangements had been put in place to stop those who are engaged in disorderly conduct or whether political thugs vigilante
INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, made the announcement while addressing journalists on the preparation of the polling commission postponed tomorrow.
Jega said that change is imperative to enable the Commission to print additional ballots to meet the shortage that resulted from their use in the botched April 2 polls.
He added that the shift, the logos of political parties that were missing from ballot papers would now be inserted into the new ones that would be re-presented.
THE PUNCH had exclusively reported on Tuesday that INEC may shift in some polls and federal senatorial districts as a result of the use of ballots in areas where elections were held before they were suddenly arrested .
Some of the parties whose logos were omitted included the Congress for progressive change, the Labour Party, the Party Agreement, the peoples of the Progressive Alliance and the Congress for Democratic Change.
According to a list available to journalists, the states most affected by the change in Senate elections are: Ekiti and Plateau, where the three senatorial districts were affected.
For the concurrence of the House of Representative, the polls will not hold in five federal ridings in Ogun and Kaduna states each.
In Ekiti, Delta, Lagos, Kano, Gombe and Anambra states, the election will not hold in three federal districts each.
Jega said: "For example, in some areas a good amount of ballots had been used and it is not possible to reprint the ballots enough replacement before the election.
"So in some constituencies, party names and logos are missing on the ballot.
"Although some of these licenses to human error in compiling the names of qualified candidates and parties for the elections, others are related to sudden changes from judgments on party nominations.
"These challenges require that ballots be printed prior to fresh elections."
He said that INEC had worked hard to get these ballots printed on time.
Jega said: "Given the security requirements for the printing of ballots and the failure of national and international companies to deliver on time, it became imperative that sufficient time be given for the printing of these ballots to vote.
"Therefore, while the election will generally take place next Saturday, it became inevitable to postpone the elections in some constituencies affected, representing 15 senatorial districts and 48 federal ridings."
He said the board has reviewed the situation and the failures that led to the abortive attempt to organize elections and proposed measures to prevent a recurrence.
He said the commission since last Saturday has worked tirelessly to address the deficiencies noted.
He said: "This result sheets were not only delivered in the country, but were received by state and local governments nationwide.
"Similarly, the necessary election materials to other state and local governments areas have been provided.
"The logistical challenges have been taken and we had further consultations with political parties, security services and other stakeholders to address other challenges that emerged Saturday.
"Therefore, everything is now set for the elections of the National Assembly to exercise throughout the country on Saturday."
In addition, Jega noted that the Committee observed that the governors of several states ignored calls not to go round voting units with police escort army during the April 2 polls.
Therefore, he reiterated his call, adding that the police high command had been duly informed and was ready to act.
He also urged parents and community leaders to keep their minor children, away from polling stations because any minor who tried to vote were arrested and prosecuted.
The INEC boss implored political parties to be orderly and peaceful during the elections, adding that voters who chose to stay after the vote must act with dignity.
He noted that arrangements had been put in place to stop those who are engaged in disorderly conduct or whether political thugs vigilante
