Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, yesterday declared that the electoral commission will stick to the election timetable it released last year, noting that distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) will not alter the date slated for the elections.
Jega, who stated this at the official launch of the Mitigation Of Violence in Election (MOVE) in Abuja, said the issues of PVC distribution before the election is something the commission will handle before the election dates.
The event was organised by International Foundation For Electoral System (IFES) and other local partners to address issues of election violence before, during and after the elections.
The INEC boss said the commission was prepared “if push comes to shove” to sustain the distribution of PVCs till the eve of elections.
Jega, who was responding to a call by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki, for the postponement of the election within the timeframe of the electoral law, however said the commission has not discussed possible postponement.
Jega said, “I don’t want to comment on this. Like everybody we read it in the papers. I myself many things have been attributed to me which I know I didn’t say. So until I can confirm and get clarification it will be premature for me at this public event to start saying anything.
“In any case, anything that I communicate is the commission’s position and the commission has not discussed this matter and taken a position on it. So I cannot comment on this for now.”
He continued: “The challenge of the distribution of PVCs, we believe, is something we can address before the elections. I don’t know what else anybody wants me to say about this. We issued a timetable for the 2015 election almost a year ago and we have been busy working to implement that timetable to the letter. “
