The head of INEC Prof Attahiru Jega has said on that the country will hold a
presidential election as scheduled on Feb. 14, rejecting a
call from one of the president's advisors to delay them.
"We remain committed to implementing the timetable,"
commission head Attahiru Jega told a news conference.
National Security Advisor
Sambo Dasuki said last week that Nigeria should delay the
election to allow more time for permanent voter cards
(PVCs) to be distributed. Some 30 million have yet to be
handed out.
"We do not believe that the challenges of PVC distribution
are such that it warrants rescheduling the election," Jega
said.
The opposition rejected Dasuki's comments as an attempt
to let the date slip because of fears Jonathan and the ruling
People's Democratic Party (PDP) might lose.
How Nigeria, which has Africa's biggest economy, conducts
the polls will be closely watched by investors and foreign
powers since past ones were marred by thuggery and ballot
box stuffing.
The elections will be the first where Nigeria's 68.8 million
voters must have a biometric cards, a measure introduced
to guard against fraud that has plagued past polls.
But delays in getting the cards out to voters -- there is no
functioning postal service in Nigeria -- have cast doubts
over whether the deadline can be met.
"There are systemic challenges affecting distribution.
Nigeria is not a country where you can mail cards...there is
no guarantee it will reach its destination," Jega said.
There are also doubts about how they will hold the election
in parts of the northeast under attack by Islamist Boko
Haram insurgents.
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