INEC Chairman , Prof. Attahiru Jega, had while receiving a delegation from the European Union Mission in Nigeria in Abuja on Monday, said, “We are getting conflicting signals and if there are any delays in the National Assembly, it will affect us.
“The faster they are able to complete the amendment process, the better for us. If we have to get an extension around November or December, then we will be back to square one. We do not want any extension that would affect the May 29 handover date.”
But the National Assembly absolved itself of blame in the challenges facing INEC and reminded the commission that it was yet to acquire the Direct Data Capturing machines needed for voter registration more than a month after the budget for the poll was approved.
The National Assembly also reminded Jega that some of the provisions in the Electoral Act which it was being asked to amend, were brought by it by INEC.
It, therefore, argued that since it had done everything possible to make the electoral body perform its duties effectively, it would be unfair for anyone to castigate it.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ayogu Eze, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, spoke for the National Assembly.
Eze, who addressed journalists after the Senate gave its committees on INEC and Public Petitions one week to investigate the comments by Jega, said the upper chamber of the National Assembly had to call off its recess to pass the commission’s budget “to give it a chance to do a nice job.”
He added, “We passed INEC budget and while the budget was being passed, the story changed and INEC said that it needed more time. Now we are in the process of giving them that.
“But for us in the National Assembly, we are even more apprehensive because up till now, INEC as we speak, has yet to complete the process of acquiring the DDC machines.
“We think that if this is the case, we have serious fears whether indeed, the time extension requested will be enough, because by now, we believe that the voter registration will have been on.”
Eze said that the Senate was amazed that the same INEC which “wrote to us making those suggestions that the timelines be incorporated in the Electoral Act” could “turn around to say the timelines were no longer sufficient.”
He said that the National Assembly was not standing on the way of any agency or arm of government in trying to ensure a free, fair and credible elections in 2011.
Senators, especially the President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark, had earlier at Tuesday plenary, took a swipe at Jega, saying he had made “a very serious allegation” against the National Assembly.
One of the Senators, Alhaji Kanti Bello, had, under Order 15 of the standing rules of Senate, called his colleagues attention to the comments by INEC chairman.
Brandishing a copy of a daily newspaper which also reported Jega’s comments, Bello said, “We had to cut short our recess to handle the budget of INEC. We did what we had to do, if the allegation by Jega is true then he has to be made to explain.”
Senator Abubakar Sodangi, in his contribution, noted that Jega should not be glorified by being invited but should be referred to the Senate Committee on INEC.
Chief George Sekibo, said he believed that there was “a conspiracy against the National Assembly” regarding the conduct of the general elections.
He added that he could not understand why people who could not do their job well, would “ shift the blame to the National Assembly.”
Sekibo said that it was an irony that INEC, which had not ’even acquired the DDC (Direct Data Capturing) machines,” needed for the registration of voters for the poll, would turn round to blame the National Assembly for its shortcomings.
While ruling on the matter, Mark said the National Assembly had done everything within its powers for INEC in its bid to stage credible elections next year.
He said, “I think this is a very serious allegation. We have done everything humanly possible for INEC. When its (INEC) budget came for defence, the figure they brought later was far more than the N14bn that was agreed, yet the National Assembly allowed it to go.
“We cut short our recess and approved its budget. We don’t want to be seen as a stumbling block.
“If Jega said so, he owes the National Assembly an explanation. The statement is totally uncalled for. If INEC fails, the National Assembly should not be held responsible. It is a grievous allegation which should not be taken lightly.
“I have not read the papers, but if what Bello is saying is what he said, then he should be called to order.”
Mark, however, calmed the nerves of other Senators, who wanted to make more contributions on Jega’s comments.
Reacting, Eyiboh noted that Jega had been ”frivolous” with his comments on the poll.
He added that it was surprising that Jega would turn round to accuse the same National Assembly, which had done everything possible to assist INEC, of delay.
He explained that the House, which had been on break, only reconvened on Tuesday (yesterday).
The House spokesperson said, ”Even at that, our committee on constitution review started working on the Electoral Act, visa-vis INEC‘s request for time extension.
”We are working and we shall do everything possible to ensure that there will be free and fair elections in 2011.”
During the plenary earlier on Tuesday, some lawmakers had expressed displeasure over Jega‘s comments, saying that it was a breach of their privilege.
The Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, however, calmed their nerves by saying that the House would not want to overheat the political atmosphere.
Bankole merely stated that the House would play its part in giving the needed legislative backing to the 2011 poll.
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