N’Assembly poll: How feasible is Monday?

Background...

Punch

3 April 2011

N’Assembly poll: How feasible is Monday?

 

In order to maintain the integrity of the elections, the Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) has taken the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the National Assembly elections to Monday, April 4, 2011.” With that statement, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, about mid-day on Saturday, announced the embarrassing shift in the Senatorial and House of Representatives elections as scheduled.

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While Nigerians grapple with their pains and disappointments as a result of the postponement, the question that had equally arisen was the feasibility of Monday (tomorrow) for the postponed election.

Beyond the disruptions to the national economy and individual’s livelihood that another holiday or day of restrictions would entail, many had queried the ability of INEC to overcome whatever shortcomings that necessitated the postponement from Saturday within about 48 hours.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, in his immediate reaction to the shifted election, called for caution and suggested that INEC picked next Saturday.

Fashola who confirmed that he had already voted before the postponement of the exercise, apart from doubting that the electoral body would have overcome its difficulties by Monday, raised fears about the implication of Monday on the life of the citizens, especially students who are billed to write their examinations.

By Jega’s admission, the materials needed by INEC to conduct the elections arrived Lagos at 9.00am on Saturday. While many commentators would want to take Jega’s words as the truth, there are doubts that the distribution to all states and polling centres would be completed for a smooth poll to take place on Monday.