ACF rejects additional polling units, silent on Jega The Arewa Consultative Forum on Monday rejected the allocation of additional polling units by the Independent National Election Commission, noting that the exercise was skewed in favour of the South. The position was a major outcome of an emergency meeting on Sunday between the ACF and all non-governmental organisations in the North at the ACF’s Secretariat in Kaduna. In a communiqué signed by the ACF’s Secretary-General, Col. John Ubah (retd.), and the Secretary-General of the Code Group, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, respectively, the northern group was, however, silent on whether the INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, should resign his position over the creation of additional polling units, as demanded by a group of Southern leaders, led by a former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, Chief Edwin Clark and Senator Femi Okurounmu. The communiqué stated,“We resolve to reject the recent allocation of additional polling units by INEC which deliberately conferred undeserved advantages on states in the South. The creation of additional polling units should be re-visited, using standard criteria that INEC is aware of. “Attempts to blackmail and stampede INEC into abandoning its hallowed responsibilities to do justice to all Nigerians, or sacrifice the rights of northern voters are hereby condemned. The North expects INEC to re-allocate the polling units in strict compliance with its standard guidelines without fear or favour. “Reject any excuse to prevent any citizen from participating in the 2015 general elections. Similarly, any attempt to secure extension of tenure under the cover of security will be resisted by people of the North. “Like all Nigerians, northerners expect the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to provide a secure and safe environment for the 2015 elections, and avoid any attempt to jeopardise the democratic process in Nigeria.” The ACF was also disturbed by the insecurity in the North, which was occasioned by the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents that had crippled socio-economic activities in some parts of the region. They blamed the Jonathan-led administration for doing nothing to ameliorate the ugly situation. Consequently, the North, under the aegis of the ACF, resolved to summon its past leaders including some former heads of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar to a meeting. The purpose of the meeting, the ACF said, was to let them realise that they were not influencing government on the security and economic well-being of the people of the North. In addition, the communiqué said the ACF resolved to “request the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives and all legislators from the North to note that northerners expect them to exercise greater commitment towards ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is made more accountable to northerners and the citizens of Nigeria in the manner it handles national security and the management of resources of the nation.” The ACF also, “remind northern governors that citizens are disappointed over their seeming neglect of the security and welfare of the people of the North. In the next few weeks, activities of joint committees will approach governors and involve them in mobilising citizens towards supporting all measures to improve security in the North, and will inform northerners of responses of all our elected leaders.”
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 06:02:40 +0000
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