The National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), early today during a talk at London think-tank Chatham House, said he wants February’s general elections postponed to allow the electoral commission more time to distribute biometric voting cards to millions of voters who are yet to get their cards.
According to Sambo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still has at least 30 million voting cards to distribute to voters, with the first election (Presidential election) holding on Valentine’s Day.
A Reuters report quoted Sambo as saying that he had discussed the matter with the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, and had said a delay within the time allowed by the law would be a good idea.
“That is what we are encouraging at the moment,” he said.
The elections will be the first where voters have to have a biometric card, introduced to guard against fraud that has plagued past polls.
Dasuki said INEC had distributed 30 million cards in the past year but had another 30 million to hand out.
He said INEC had assured him it would achieve this in time for the February date, but he thought it would make more sense to take more time. He added that there was a 90-day window during which the election could legally take place.
“It costs you nothing, it’s still within the law,” Dasuki said he had told the INEC chairman. He however added that only INEC could make the call.
“What sense does it make to vote three months early when there are 30 million cards still with INEC? That’s my position,” Dasuki said, according to the news agency.
Incumbent President Jonathan is seeking re-election in a ballot that is expected to be a keen contest between himself and main challenger, former military Head of State and candidate of a coalition of the opposition, General Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Sambo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still has at least 30 million voting cards to distribute to voters, with the first election (Presidential election) holding on Valentine’s Day.
A Reuters report quoted Sambo as saying that he had discussed the matter with the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, and had said a delay within the time allowed by the law would be a good idea.
“That is what we are encouraging at the moment,” he said.
The elections will be the first where voters have to have a biometric card, introduced to guard against fraud that has plagued past polls.
Dasuki said INEC had distributed 30 million cards in the past year but had another 30 million to hand out.
He said INEC had assured him it would achieve this in time for the February date, but he thought it would make more sense to take more time. He added that there was a 90-day window during which the election could legally take place.
“It costs you nothing, it’s still within the law,” Dasuki said he had told the INEC chairman. He however added that only INEC could make the call.
“What sense does it make to vote three months early when there are 30 million cards still with INEC? That’s my position,” Dasuki said, according to the news agency.
Incumbent President Jonathan is seeking re-election in a ballot that is expected to be a keen contest between himself and main challenger, former military Head of State and candidate of a coalition of the opposition, General Muhammadu Buhari.
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