Osun 2014: We 'll Conduct Election Under tight security - Jega

Professor Attahiru Jega,  yesterday said that the August 9, gubernatorial election in Osun State would be conducted under tight security.

Jega who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja at a workshop for media executives said that the commission’s interest was to secure the electoral process in Osun State, protect INEC personnel and material and make the environment for the election peaceful for people to come out and vote.

He dismissed as misconception the position by some politicians that the just held Ekiti governorship election was militarised even as he explained why some voters in Ekiti did not find their names in the voters’ register.

He also reacted on various controversial issues about the conduct of election in some states of the federation in recent past and the preparation for the Osun State governorship election.

On the alleged militarisation of the Ekiti election, Jega said: “I am a student of Political Science. I have done a number of papers on militarisation. So, I know the meaning of militarisation. There is no way anybody can define what happened in Ekiti as militarisation.

“But there was heavy security presence. All we can say is that there should be no overbearing presence of security operatives, particularly soldiers.

Court fixes March 10 for hearing on INEC’s refusal to register DPC

premiumtimesThe Federal High Court Abuja has fixed March 10 for hearing in the suit instituted by the Democratic People’s Congress, DPC, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Counsel to the DPC, Ezekiel Ofou, filed the suit before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, challenging the refusal of INEC to register it as a political party after fulfilling all requirements.

A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Mr. Ofou quoted a notice of hearing served on the respondent in suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/880/13 with 22-paragraph deposed to by Olusegun Peters.

Balarabe Musa : Credible elections difficult to achieve in 2015

A former Kaduna State governor, Balarabe Musa, on Saturday said the time table released for the 2015 general elections has given reasonable time for the conclusion of litigation before the inauguration of elected officials. Mr. Musa said this in a telephone interview from Kaduna.

He said the time given was reasonable enough to dispose of all cases that would arise from the election; “provided the judiciary would do its work dispassionately.” Mr. Musa also said political parties now had the freedom to openly campaign and woo voters before the elections.

According to him, before now some of the politicians were campaigning discreetly without the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, calling them to order.