Elections Will Hold As Scheduled, Obasanjo Absent At Council Of State Meeting.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the only living Nigerian leader absent at the Council of state meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja earlier today.

At the meeting were Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), former President Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Others at the meeting included Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyin Pius Anyim; National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.

Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP governors at the meeting included  Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Niger, Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ondo, Taraba, Delta, Enugu, Ekiti, Plateau, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe and Bauchi States as well as the Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed.

Opposition Governors in attendance include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulfatahi Ahmed (Kwara), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and the deputy governors of Borno and Yobe States.

At the end of the meeting, the 2015 elections are to move ahead as planned, speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting Governor Rochas Okorocha said:

 

 

“It was one of an unusual Council of State meeting that took over 7 hours deliberating on a very sensitive issue as to whether INEC is prepared for the elections or not and whether there is need for the change of dates of these elections.

 INEC has said they are very ready to conduct these elections and the security agencies have shown concerns about certain local governments where they have security challenges. But INEC has the power to conduct elections including fixing dates of elections.

The Council rose that INEC should then inform the nation as to their preparedness and proceed to conduct the elections. The Council has asked INEC to perform its civic responsibility which is to conduct election. That is what we rose to agree.

 It was a very challenging moment and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready. But because of the concerns of the security agencies in few local governments, Council asked INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility.

 There is no decision as to change of dates or postponement at all…. Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011.” he said