Jega

2015: Jega talks tough to INEC commissioners

• Osun governorship time-table out

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has urged Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and all staff of the commission to be more committed and vigilant as the nation moves closer to 2015 general elections.
This came just as INEC yesterday said the tenure of Osun governor will expire 25 November 2014.
According to the commission’s bulletin number 608, released Monday, Jega spoke at the just concluded four-day retreat held in Kaduna.
His words: “All eyes are on us – our friends, partners, concerned citizens and indeed, even our adversaries. We must be more vigilant, be more committed and strengthen our harmony at all levels to achieve the desired results.”
He urged management and staff of the commission “to continue to do the job with integrity and in an impartial and non-partisan manner, so that no one will make allegations that will impugn your integrity.”
According to him, in reviewing the commission’s sundry programmes and plans which were to be implemented this year, it was evident that there would be gaps.
He, therefore, charged the participants to ensure that those gaps were filled, saying fundamental things that needed to be done were implemented; “we must work assiduously to bridge or mitigate those observable gaps.”
Continuing, Jega disclosed that in implementing the programmes and plans leading to the 2015 general elections, the commission would ensure that competencies were improved and that those who had the capacity to deliver more efficiently were given the opportunity to do so.
The INEC chairman identified key objectives of the retreat to include: Review, discuss and decide on the major policies and programmes leading to the 2015 General Elections; share with RECs, directors and directing staff decisions taken by the commission on major policies and programmes.
Others are to use the opportunity (of the retreat) to share experiences and lessons from previous elections on how to keep on improving the electoral process; and further review some of the challenges the commission faced in the conduct of previous elections.
INEC said by virtue of provision of section 178 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, governorship election in the state shall hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of the office of the governor.
According to the time table released yesterday, notice of election is slated for  April 1, 2014, while commencement of campaign by political parties will be  May 11, 2014.
Collection of form for the election by political parties at INEC headquarters is scheduled for May 19, 2014, last date for conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries will come up June 2, 2014, while last date for submission of form CF001 and CFOO2 at the INEC headquarters is fixed for  June 9, 2014.
Publication of personal particulars of candidates CF001 will commence June 16, 2014, even as the last day for withdrawal by candidates/replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties is scheduled for June 25, 2014.
According to INEC, the last day for submission of nomination forms by political parties is slated for July 1, publication of official register of voter and publication of list of nominated candidates will simultaneously be held July 8.
The commission maintained that publication of notice of poll, submission of names of party agents, is slated for July 23 and 24 respectively, adding that election is fixed for August 9, while campaign will end August 7.