Jonathan Wants Elections Postponed For 6 Months, INEC Says Elections Will Hold

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 National 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.