2015 Elections: INEC Denies Influence From Presidency, PDP

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has debunked allegations that it acted the script of the presidency or ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), by fixing the
Presidential/National Assembly elections first in its 2015 elections timetable.

Cross River State Resident Electoral
Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini told The Guardian that the Commission’s decision was in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended.

“Why do we politicize everything in this
country? In 2011, we held National Assembly election first, followed by the presidential election and the rest.
Our decision to conduct both Presidential/National Assembly the same
day in 2015 is to save costs and manpower.
If we hold the two elections on different days, it will cost the Commission more money.

The Commission is not acting anybody’s script but working within its constitutional powers.
“In the 1964 general elections, federal election was first conducted, before the regional election.

The Commission has the power to fix
the 2015 election timetable the other way
round, but there is nothing wrong with the
timetable we released for the next general
elections,” he insisted.

Speaking further, he said demands that all elections should hold in one day is impossible, since a voter will be issued with five ballot papers at once.

Many observers, opposition parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), have kicked against the timetable, alleging that it was fixed to favour the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan in particular.