Plans by President Goodluck Jonathan
and his team to scuttle the general
elections scheduled for February have
come to light, with National Security
Adviser Sambo Dasuki openly calling
for postponement of the elections.
Sambo spoke at a Chattam House
lecture in London, offering the excuse
that the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has not
distributed Permanent Voters Cards
across the country as was expected.
SaharaReporters had reported several
months ago that President Goodluck
Jonathan was reluctant to hold
national elections because his
popularity had dwindled considerably
and he feared losing the election.
In the last few days, as the popularity
of General Muhammadu Buhari for
the presidency has grown, Mr.
Jonathan has spent vast sums of money
mobilizing people to call for the
postponement of the elections.
INEC spokesperson, Kayode Idowu told
SaharaReporters today that INEC was
not aware of Col. Dasuki’s suggestion,
and that the elections will hold as
scheduled.
Several sources connected to the
presidency told SaharaReporters that
President Jonathan wants the elections
to be postponed for at least six
months, a period that will enable him
to appoint a new INEC chairman of his
liking to oversee the elections.
Professor Attahiru Jega’s tenure
expires in July 2015.
With Jega out of the way, Jonathan
would appoint another INEC chairman
who would further postponement of
the election.
SaharaReporters sources stated that
President Jonathan is seriously
considering an “Interim Government
of National Unity” that would elongate
his tenure till 2017. That would mean
he spends eight years in power as
President, the equivalent of two terms.
In 2011 as he assumed office, his first
effort was to call for a new six-year
term arrangement, which was shot
down by Nigerians. He also recently
attempted to smuggle in a new
constitution by the back door through
the National Conference.
Source:- Sahara Reporters
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