2010 Election: INEC to request for more time

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Huhuonline.com can disclose the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that the time line it was given to conduct the 2010 election was short, and has requested for more time to enable it conduct a credible elections. In a communiqué issued at the

end of a two day retreat in Calabar, INEC secretary Abdulaihi Kaugaima, said 'Having examined the Commission's detailed Action Plan for the voter registration and elections, the Retreat noted that the timeline for the implementation of this Plan is very tight. Consequently, the Commission shall endeavour to engage all the relevant stakeholders with a view to exploring all legal avenues for extension of time to enable the Commission to deliver on the aspirations of Nigerians for a credible voters' register and free, fair and credible elections. Should this happen, May 29 2011 inauguration date must remain sacrosanct'.

  Full Text of his statement read:
  FULL TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE OF THE TWO DAY RETREAT OF THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) WITH RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS HELD IN AMBER HOTEL, TINAPA, CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE PREAMBLE

  In furtherance of its objective of ensuring free, fair and credible elections, recognising the need to subject its internal structures, processes and plans to close scrutiny; desirous of carrying along all its personnel in the discharge of the onerous responsibility and conscious of its responsibilities and obligations as an election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the support of International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) organised a two (2) day retreat for National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Amber Hotel, Tinapa, Calabar between 16 th and 19 th of September 2010.

  Having extensively and critically deliberated on the internal processes and external dimensions affecting the whole electoral process; and in particular the upcoming Voter Registration exercise and the General Elections in 2011, the Commission observes as follows:

  1.     That the task of conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2011 is a collective task for all Nigerians and not the Commission alone. Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to free and fair conduct of elections and calls on all Stakeholders to join in the task of achieving this objective.

  2.     That there is the need to severely punish electoral offenders to serve as deterrent to others. Therefore, INEC calls on the National Assembly to enact a law for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal.

  3.     Having examined the Commission's detailed Action Plan for the voter registration and elections, the Retreat noted that the timeline for the implementation of this Plan is very tight. Consequently, the Commission shall endeavour to engage all the relevant stakeholders with a view to exploring all legal avenues for extension of time to enable the Commission to deliver on the aspirations of Nigerians for a credible voters' register and free, fair and credible elections. Should this happen, May 29 2011 inauguration date must remain sacrosanct.

  4.     Political Parties should strictly adhere to provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 and their Constitutions in the conduct of their congresses, conventions and primaries. The Commission shall ensure strict compliance to such provisions.

  5.     The Commission has developed an in-house software which will be rigorously field-tested before the commencement of the registration exercise.

  6.     The Commission calls upon all Stakeholders to ensure that incidences of underaged registration and other abnormalities are detected and prevented during the registration and display of Voters' Register.

  7.     The Commission expresses its profound appreciation to all Nigerians for their expressions of goodwill, support and cooperation, which has inspired it to continue to give its best to the success of the upcoming Voters' Registration and Elections.