Council of State votes against postponement of polls [PHOTOS]

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February 5, 2015 10:22 PM

The decision was taken today, February 5, at a meeting attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega.

The Council of State has decided that the 2015 General Elections will hold as planned.

The decision was taken today, February 5, at a meeting attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega.

Also present at the meeting were former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Ernest Shonekan and former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar.

The meeting was also attended by several state governors and other political stakeholders in the country.

According to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who was at the meeting, Jega told the council that INEC is ready to conduct the elections which have been slated for February 14 and 28.

“It was one of an unusual Council of State meeting that took over 7 hours deliberating on a very sensitive issue as to whether INEC is prepared for the elections or not and whether there is need for the change of dates of these elections. INEC has said they are very ready to conduct these elections and the security agencies have shown concerns about certain local governments where they have security challenges. But INEC has the power to conduct elections including fixing dates of elections,” Okorocha said.

“There is no decision as to change of dates or postponement at all…. Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011,” he added.

An initial call for the postponement of the polls was made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki but Nigeria has been warned against the action by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry.

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