Polls: GEJ Roots For April 2011, Forwards Electoral Act Amendment Bill

PHOTO: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN.

ABUJA, Sept 28, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan today gave support to the proposed April 2011 as the date for the conduct of the general election next year, this was even as he appealed to the Senate to agree to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) request for a timeline extension.

Consequently, he forwarded a bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, 2010, in which he proposed the amendment of the relevant laws, as attached, through the inclusion of transitional provisions which will enable INEC conduct general elections between now and the end of April 2011.

The President had in an earlier letter which was also read on the floor of the Senate yesterday, informed Senators that INEC request was predicated on the inability of the electoral body to implement its detailed action plan with regards to planning, procurement and deployment for registration of voters and elections, within the timelines in the contest of the Electoral Act adding that it is noteworthy that the leadership of all the political parties endorsed the request in a recent retreat.

The letter read in part: "I am in receipt of a letter from the Chairman of INEC on the above subject matter (copy attached). According to the Chairman, the request is predicated on the inability of INEC to implement its detailed action plan with regards planning, procurement and deployment for registration of voters and elections, within the timelines in the context of the Electoral Act. It is noteworthy that the leadership of all the political parties endorsed the request in a recent retreat.

"While I agree with INEC on the validity of the request and the need to address the apparent difficulties, I shall propose an amendment of the relevant laws by inclusion of transitional provisions which will enable INEC conduct general elections between now and the end of April 2011.

"It is my hope that the distinguished Senators of the federal Republic of Nigeria will consider and pass the amendment in your usual expeditious manner".

Recall that the INEC Chairman had a turbulent session with the lawmakers on Monday, but at the end he got a firm promise for timeline extension for it to conduct the 2011 polls with a warning not to return with any new proposals until elections are over.