2015: Elections’ll Hold In Borno, Yobe, Adamawa – Jega

INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has said that the commission will conduct the 2015 elections in the volatile states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. Jega, who stated this during a discussion programme with a local radio station, Freedom Radio, in Kano on Friday, said that he was edgy with the comments attributed to him that election would not be held in the three north-eastern states. According to him, elections have been held in warring and unstable places across the globe. “INEC is ready and plans are in the pipeline to carry out election in all the 36 states of the federation,” he said. According to him, INEC is taking every measure in ensuring that all the staff and election materials that will be deployed to the states are protected. “I was asked during a session with National Assembly members whether INEC will conduct election in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. I gave my personal opinion that one has to be careful not to hold an election in trouble time,” Jega said. “Any media that reported that I said there isn’t going to be an election in these places lied against me.” Jega called on the National Assembly to pass a law that will allow for the establishment of a commission that will adjudicate on electoral offences, arguing that INEC cannot and doesn’t have the manpower to handle legal matters and election matters simultaneously. Meanwhile, Jega has assured of his commission’s readiness to give Nigerians world-best election in 2015, as issuance of permanent voter registers as well as recertification of voters commence in 10 states.