Posted by By JACOB EDI, Abuja. on
The Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] on Tuesday released the time table for next year's general election, slating the presidential polls, the climax of the exercise for April 21.
•Obasanjo rejects call for ING
The Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] on Tuesday released the time table for next year's general election, slating the presidential polls, the climax of the exercise for April 21.
By the time table, made public by Professor Maurice Iwu, National Chairman of INEC, the governorship election will hold on April 14 alongside the State Houses of Assembly's while the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold exactly a week after.
The INEC boss said the dates were arrived at after prolonged consultations with leaders of all the registered political parties, civil societies and various stakeholders in the electoral process.
In a welcome address, presented at a two-day national forum organised by the commission tagged: Nigeria's 2007 General Election: The Critical Challenges Ahead Professor Iwu said that provisions have been made to accommodate any run-offs for the governorship and presidential elections which will be held on dates that will be fixed after the announcement of the results. The commission, Iwu said, would, however, be mindful of the constitutional stipulation within which such run-offs can be held.
Iwu categorised the challenges confronting the nation into operational issues of conducting elections and the crosscutting issues with democratisation programme and said that: 'If for lack of will or in obedience to impermanent convenience, we choose to trudge on under the yoke of these retarding factors, then we can continue to have contentious elections as we have had many of them in the past decades.
The INEC chairman, however, noted that the challenge of the 2007 elections was to 'uproot what is flawed and decadent in the electoral process and in its place, raise and ensure values of democratic contests that will in the end leave no doubt about the actual will of the people." This, he said, would take the commitment and sacrifice of everybody to achieve.
President Olusegun in his keynote address, denounced those alleging that there were plans to set up an Interim National Government [ING] rather than conduct elections next year.
'In Nigeria today, those talking about ING are either ignorant of the constitution, they are evil minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such contraption except during a state of war against other countries. Unless they have plans to go to war against other countries, it is difficult to see how the issue of ING comes into our political discourse and commitment to political stability and economic progress. ING is only reminiscent of military regime and mentality. It is undemocratic and has no redeeming political or other value," President Obasanjo stated.
The president said Nigerians must refuse to be 'manipulated, divided or intimidated," from the path of democracy and that it was the only way to ensure that 2007 elections be succeeded.
Obasanjo also decried electoral violence and said no one should be in doubt as to his administration's preparedness to wage war against political violence and politicians who 'instigate, preach, encourage, support and promote violence," adding that Nigerians must be fully alert to the activities of 'confusionists that find themselves unable to prepare for genuine democratic politics and are therefore working to divide Nigerians, precipitate doubts and cynicism and mortgage our political future."
The President also lashed out at Nigeria's development partners and international friends and warned them not to indulge in raising 'unnecessary dust about our democracy." He noted that the nation's democratic institutions were all functioning and Nigeria remained on course.
'We want friends and partners that will support and encourage us along lines of democratic practice and consolidation and not those that celebrate our few mistakes, exaggerate our challenges and keep silent on our successes. We do not expect partners and friends to fund or team up with dubious and mischievous characters under whatever guise just to earn a pay or justify an already set agenda. We will not accept such interference under any guise," Obasanjo warned.
He further said that, as he I returned to his farm, he would leave feeling that he had had the opportunity to serve his fatherland and done his best, leaving the rest for those coming behind 'to resolve to have no rest until the ultimate best is achieved for the country."
Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who was chairman on the occassion said INEC must have control of the staff it hired to conduct next year's election.
INEC, Shagari emphasized, must ensure that 'only people of integrity and learning were procured to undertake electoral duties." This according to the former President will improve the sanctity of elections and make the commission's staff less vulnerable to manipulation and partisanship.
Former Head of State and Obasanjo's main challenger in the 2003 presidential elections, Major-General Mohammadu Buhari was at the occasion. Though not scheduled by the to make any remarks, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, presidential aspirant in next year's presidential election got jibes from Obasanjo as he delivered his keynote address.
For instance, Obasanjo remarked that as the INEC chairman was announcing the date of the next election, he noticed Buhari was 'furiously taking notes." This drew applause from the crowd.
As if he was not done, Obasanjo added: 'You see when the INEC chairman finished his address, I did not shake him so that am not accused of using undue influence but I saw General Buhari shaking him," Obasanjo stated. Not even Buhari could hold back laughter.
The national forum will deal with issues of violence, the need to control the influence of money in elections, addressing the mindsets of Nigerians on elections, enhancing women participation in the electoral process and the role of the media in the making or unmaking of elections among other things.
Meanwhile INEC has received a grant of N3.8 billion to assist in the conduct of next year's election.
The grant was contributed by DFID, UNDP, Canadian International Developmental Agency, and the European Commission.