—Council of State meets today
By Bode Olagoke and Abdullahi M. Gulloma, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against any plan aimed at postponing this month’s elections, saying that a meeting of the Council of State scheduled to hold today may be dragged into postponing the February 14 and 28 general elections.
It further arguwed that the council’s involvement in such project “damages the democratic process and will be a serious disservice to the nation.”
Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odiege-Oyegun, said the party would not accept any postponement, stressing that “INEC should be allowed to perform its duties without overbearing interference from other institutions of state and the evil machinations of the PDP.”
According to him, the APC is encouraged by the fact that INEC has restated in clear and unambiguous terms its determination and ability to conduct the elections as planned.
He said: “It is the constitutional prerogative of INEC to set election dates, which nonetheless should meet at least the minimum threshold of confidence.
“Attempts to rubbish INEC’s preparations in order to achieve a postponement are being seen for what they are: a desperate ploy by the PDP administration to avoid certain electoral defeat. Unfortunately, in the process, the polity is being overheated to dangerous levels, with consequences that might be unpredictable at this stage.
“Nigerians understand where the orchestrated attempts involving instigation of political parties and other groups, flimsy legal challenges and cynical manipulation of national elders and leaders are coming from.
“These are part of the PDP script to deny Nigerians their right to choose their leaders on the 14th and 28th of February.”
Continuing, he said: “APC has faith in the distinguished members of the Council of State, and advises them not to become tools in the hand of an administration that wants to subvert our fragile democratic process.”
Oyegun, therefore, reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to fully participate in the general elections on February 14 and 28 as planned, stressing that “APC will not accept any postponement.”
The National Council of State will today meet in Abuja to deliberate on national issues, including the forthcoming elections, Blueprint learnt yesterday.
Sources at the State House told this newspaper that calls for the postponement of the planned elections on one hand and the need for peaceful conduct of the polls as scheduled on the other hand would dominate the council’s deliberations.
The National Council of State is the highest decision-making organ of the federal government charged with the responsibility of advising the executive arm of government on policy making.
Primarily, the Council advises the president in the exercise of his powers with respect to the national population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same; prerogative of mercy; award of national honours; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (including the appointment of members of that commission); the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that council); and the National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that commission).
It also advises the president on the maintenance of public order within the federation or any part and on other matters as the president may direct.
The Council of State consists of the president as chairman, vice president as deputy chairman and all former presidents and heads of the government of the federation as members.
Other members of the council are all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, serving president of the Senate, serving Speaker of the House of Representatives, serving governors of the 36 states of the Federation, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
