The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has urged the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC to utilize the six weeks postponement of the
2015 elections to ensure adequate distributions of Personal Voters Card,
PVC’s to eligible voters.
NBA in a press statement signed by Augustine Alegeh, President of NBA,
argued that while INEC cannot conduct elections in isolation of the
Security agencies, the postponement falls within the constitution of
Nigeria.
The Statement reads:
The Nigerian Bar Association notes the decision of INEC to postpone the
2015 General Elections by six [6] weeks in the light of the security
advisory received from the Security Agencies that the required security
personnel are engaged in a military operation against Boko Haram and will
not be available to protect Electoral materials and staff if the elections
were held on 14th and 28th February, 2015 as originally scheduled.
The security advisory left INEC with no other option than to postpone the
elections. INEC can certainly not be expected to proceed with the
elections without the required security support. The new dates of 28th
March and 11th April, 2015 fixed by INEC fall within the timeline provided
in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 [as amended]
CFRN.
We advise INEC to utilize the said six [6] week period to resolve the
challenges surrounding the issuance of Permanent Voter’s Cards [PVCs].
There are still about 20 million PVCs yet to be collected by Voters while
some PVCs are still being produced and/or awaiting delivery at this time.
We restate our call on INEC, to request the Federal Government of Nigeria
[FGN] to declare a minimum of two [2] work free days to enable voters
collect their PVCs from their polling stations. INEC should also ensure
that PVCs are produced for all voters whose names appear in the Voters’
Register. PVCs are central to the success of the 2015 General Elections
and INEC must apply its best endeavours to ensure that all problems in
respect of PVCs are resolved well before the 28th of March, 2015. Our
entire democratic experience depends on the success of the 2015 General
Elections and INEC must ensure that everything necessary is put in place
for a successful 2015 General Elections.
The NBA also notes that the Security Advisory relied upon by INEC in
postponing the 2015 General Elections indicates that Nigerian security
forces are aggressively combating the Boko Haram insurgency and expect to
totally eliminate the insurgents and secure the North Eastern States of
Nigeria, that have taken the brunt of the insurgents’ attacks, in the next
six [6] weeks.
The NBA hopes that this security advisory is not just to provide basis for
postponing the elections as is being suggested in certain quarters, but
represents the true and correct position of our security forces in their
efforts to rid our Country of the Boko Haram insurgency. We await a
positive and successful outcome of the security forces onslaught against
Boko Haram as indicated in the security advisory.
Our security agencies must understand the disappointment of several groups
who have expressed their reservations on the postponement of the elections
as a result of the security advisory. The task before our security forces
now is to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency to resolve any
lingering doubts about the good faith of the security advisory. If indeed
the Boko Haram menace is routed in the next six [6] weeks all Nigerians
will then appreciate and celebrate our security forces.
Dated 7th February, 2015
AUGUSTINE O. ALEGEH, SAN FCIArb PRESIDENT NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION