2015 elections will hold, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed fears that the general election may eventually not hold, maintaining that his first term will end on May 29, 2015.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, the president said “May 29 is sacrosanct” and asked Nigerians to support the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move the election dates from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.

This response may not be unconnected with a statement issued earlier on Sunday by the John Kerry, the US secretary of state, who expressed his country’s worries about “political interference” in INEC.

Abati said: “President Jonathan believes that this is not a time to trade blames or make statements that may overheat the polity, but a time to show understanding and support the electoral commission to conduct the elections successfully.

“It is the President’s understanding that INEC’s decision ought not to generate acrimony since it acted within its powers under the law and in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

“He calls on the international community, civil society and the electorate to continue to support the administration’s commitment to a free, fair, credible, and non-violent electoral process.”

Fears have been expressed that the sudden change in the dates of the polls might be a preamble to the orchestration of a political crisis that will eventually lead to no elections.