Jonathan Wants Elections Postponed for 6 Months, INEC Says Elections Will Hold As Scheduled

Plans by President Goodluck Jonathan and his team to
scuttle the general elections scheduled for February have
come to light, with National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki
openly calling for postponement of the elections


Sambo spoke at a Chattam House lecture in London,
offering the excuse that the Independent Natielections.onal Electoral
Commission (INEC) has not distributed Permanent Voters
Cards across the country as was expected.
SaharaReporters had reported several months ago that
President Goodluck Jonathan was reluctant to hold national
elections because his popularity had dwindled considerably
and he feared losing the election.
In the last few days, as the popularity of General
Muhammadu Buhari for the presidency has grown, Mr.
Jonathan has spent vast sums of money mobilizing people
to call for the postponement of the elections.
INEC spokesperson, Kayode Idowu told SaharaReporters
today that INEC was not aware of Col. Dasuki’s suggestion,
and that the elections will hold as scheduled.
Several sources connected to the presidency told
SaharaReporters that President Jonathan wants the
elections to be postponed for at least six months, a period
that will enable him to appoint a new INEC chairman of his
liking to oversee the elections. Professor Attahiru Jega’s
tenure expires in July 2015.
With Jega out of the way, Jonathan would appoint another
INEC chairman who would further postponement of the
election.
SaharaReporters sources stated that President Jonathan is
seriously considering an “Interim Government of National
Unity” that would elongate his tenure till 2017. That would
mean he spends eight years in power as President, the
equivalent of two terms.
In 2011 as he assumed office, his first effort was to call for
a new six-year term arrangement, which was shot down by
Nigerians. He also recently attempted to smuggle in a new
constitution by the back door through the National Conference.