INEC, parties, RECs to meet on elections dates

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will be meeting with the country’s political parties and the Resident Electoral Commissioners to deliberate on the dates for the general elections.
INEC, in a statement on Friday, said it will confirm the dates for the elections after the meeting with the political parties and the RECs.
The meeting is scheduled for Saturday.
According to a statement on Friday by Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, it is only after the meeting that the Commission will confirm whether the elections will go on as scheduled or the dates be revised.
Idowu said the development became imperative after Jega briefed the National Council of States on the preparedness of the Commission for the election.
The NCS met on Thursday and gave Jega the mandate to, along with the political parties and other stakeholders, decide on the dates for the elections since the Commission said it was set for the polls.
Idowu said in the statement: “On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, was invited to brief the National Council of States on the preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections. He made a presentation titled “Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report.’ The National Security Adviser and Armed Services Chiefs also briefed the Council on the current security situation.
“As a follow-up to that meeting, the Commission has scheduled a consultative meeting with chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties, as well as a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Saturday, February 7, 2015.”
Idowu said it is only after the meetings that the Commission will make its position known.
He added: “Thereafter, the Commission will address a press conference to brief the nation on its decision with regard to whether or not the general elections will hold as currently scheduled.”