Results Of Polls Will Be Ready In 48 Hours – Jega

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Nigeria 2015 Election Friday, March 27th, 2015

Going by the assurance from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, results of the presidential and National assembly elections will be declared within 48 hours.

Jega who disclosed this Friday in Abuja during a joint press conference alongside the Director General of the National Youth Service Commission (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi noted that the commission has put a lot in place to ensure the 48hours target was met.

He said the commission is making all efforts to ensure that results are disclosed much earlier than in 2011.

Jega also denied the report making the rounds that the Commission’s database has been compromised.

INEC Boss in an apparent reaction to an allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council that the master key was in possession of the APC, said only the producers of the data base infrastructure of INEC have the source code.

He further said that the company, Act Technologies Limited, was approved by Federal Executive Committee and was never blacklisted.

While also describing the allegations as baseless, Jega however regretted that it has the propensity to threaten the credibility of the election.

Defending the choice of the firm, Jega said it went through all the expected checks before it was awarded the contract to develop the database.

He said “it is regrettable that it is a pity that people can say all sorts of things and get away freely with it. “it is a last minute attempt to undermine the credibility of the elections.”

Jega also cleared the air on his disagreement on the issue of voters having to wait after casting their ballot or go home as advised by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba.

Jega noted that his stand was not a sign of disagreement with the police but that voters should have the choice of waiting or staying after casting their votes.

Explaining further that the presence of voters during the counting of votes would enhance the credibility of the polls.

INEC Chairman also urged corp members drafted for the elections to take the assignment with all seriousness it deserves, noting that their security and welfare has been taken care of.

He hailed the role of Corps members in enhancing the electoral process.

On his part, the DG of the NYSC, urged the corp members to handle the assignment with high integrity.

He urged them to stay away from any temptation that may tarnish the image of the scheme, families and nation.

The DG also assured Corp members of their welfare and security, noting that while INEC has disbursed 100 percent for the corp members, the NYSC has disbursed 50 percent of that amount pending the completion of their assignment.

He underscored that the decision to give them some part of the money was to enable them resist temptations from politicians to compromise.

He said the nonpayment of corp members allowance is now a thing of the past.

The Nation