No more polls shift, says Jega

Attaihiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the 2015 elections will hold on March 28 and April 11 as scheduled, because there is no reason why they should be postponed.

Jega was speaking on Thursday at the national briefing of accredited observers for the 2015 general election in Abuja.

“This election will hold as scheduled” he said, adding that “over 81 percent of permanent voter card collection had been achieved”.

He disclosed that the commission was re-training its staff and ad hoc staff on the rudiment‎s of elections, and particularly on how to handle the card readers.

Jega, who delineated the processes undertaken to ensure that the elections‎ are successful, also disclosed that there would be a national stakeholders summit on the 2015 elections next Tuesday.

While stating that the commission had done wide consultations with stakeholders in an effort to strengthen the electoral process, he expressed appreciation to domestic and international election observers‎, urging to them to abide by guidelines for observing elections in the country.

“We respect Nigerians, we respect God, and we will do everything to ensure that the elections are successful,” Jega added.

Also speaking, Suleiman Abba, inspector-general of police (IGP), expressed the preparedness of the police to provide security for the elections, saying: “Two to three police officers will be attached to each polling unit, and we would provide more officers for the collation‎ centres and for the managers of the elections.”