Jega faults IGP, says no law bars waiting after voting

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr.
Suleiman Abba, and the Chairman,
Independent National Electoral
Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on
Friday clashed over the police
chief’s “vote and go home order.”
While the IGP had warned voters to
go back to their homes after casting
their votes on election days, Jega
said the electoral law did not state
that voters could not or should not
wait to watch and ensure that their
votes count.
The IGP, who addressed accredited
observers for the forthcoming
general elections in Abuja, said the
possibility of committing electoral
offence was very high if voters
stayed back at the polling booths
for votes to be counted.
He said that each polling unit
would have at least two or three
policemen to protect votes cast by
the electorate.
“We will go on to protect the
electorate. Every eligible voter
should feel safe enough to cast his
votes. We will be there to protect
the votes and make sure no one
disrupts the process,” Abba said
But Jega disagreed with the police
chief.
The INEC chairman, who appeared
as a guest on Channels Television’s
Sunrise Daily on Friday, said there is
no part of the Electoral Act that
forbids voters from waiting at the
polling booths, adding that the law
was only against loitering.
Also, Jega’s Chief Press Secretary,
Mr. Kayode Idowu, stressed the
position of the commission’s boss,
adding that no law bars voters from
staying around polling centres.
He said, “Jega did not contradict the
IGP; he did not contradict anything
that is in the law and what the IGP
said. What the IGP said was that this
regulation of INEC that says people
can stay back in polling units, that
he is uncomfortable about it
because the Electoral Act provides
that anybody who loiters around
the polling units or commits an
electoral offence can be
prosecuted.
“He said if you stay at the polling
unit, there is a very high chance
that you will commit an electoral
offense. People who loiter within
the polling units do not have
legitimate business.
“That was exactly what Jega said,
that if you want to stay, you must
stay on the condition that your
conduct will not constitute an
electoral offense. You will not
abuse people, you will not be
aggressive towards people, you
will be calm and you will not be
unruly. As such, the security agents
will not apprehend you.”
However, the All Progressives
Congress tackled the IGP over the
“unlawful order.”
In a statement in Lagos by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, the party asked
voters to rather listen to Jega and
stayed behind to protect their
votes after casting their ballots.
The statement read, “According to
Jega, who appeared on Channels TV
on Friday morning, the electoral
law says anyone that has no
business with the electoral process
at the polling booths but desires to
monitor events should stay at least
some metres away from the polling
agents and completely away from
the ballot box after casting their
votes.
“‘The INEC Chairman further
clarified that all registered voters
have businesses with the process
and can therefore not be classified
as people that don’t have
businesses at polling units.
“Therefore, the IGP has no
constitutional right or powers
under the constitution or Police Act
to rewrite the electoral law. The
role of the police is to maintain law
and order or such other assistance
as may be sought from the police
by INEC.”

Na wa o.just let the election be free and fair o.

A word is enough 4 a wishe, vote and leave

Nothing go happen.

i think jega want cause problem, all this is hand work of apc so that they can creat problem

Stop being myopic...everything is APC

hahaha, am speaking with experience bro

Continue and share the experience with us.

smile2012 wrote:

Stop being myopic...everything is APC

not everytin okay, but nah ur aim!

SmartMobility wrote:

i think jega want cause problem, all this is hand work of apc so that they can creat problem

yes nah but dey don't knw that jonathan nah guy man

SmartMobility wrote:

hahaha, am speaking with experience bro

tell them bro

How will u people accept our great, great, great grand father to become our president?

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

How will u people accept our great, great, great grand father to become our president?

at what age Mandela becamepresident?

SmartMobility wrote:

hahaha, am speaking with experience bro

I dont think you have any experience but myopic

Wat an old man sees sitting down, a young man cannot see even if he climbs to the top of mount Kilimanjaro. A PhD cannot give u wisdom?

rengshuat wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

How will u people accept our great, great, great grand father to become our president?

at what age Mandela becamepresident?

Ask ham o

rengshuat wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

How will u people accept our great, great, great grand father to become our president?

at what age Mandela becamepresident?

Ask ham o

princeamabebe wrote:

Wat an old man sees sitting down, a young man cannot see even if he climbs to the top of mount Kilimanjaro. A PhD cannot give u wisdom?

E say, Esaaaay say, E saaaay