INEC Releases Timetable For 2015 General Elections {Photo}

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable for the 2015 general elections. The commission also announced the timetable for the conduct of the governorship election in both Ekiti and Osun States. Both states have early elections.

In a three-paragraph statement issued by INEC’s secretary, Augusta Ogakwu, the commission revealed that the presidential and National Assembly elections would come first. Going by the timetable, Nigerians will elect a president as well as members of the national legislature on February 14, 2015. Elections for governors as well as members of the 36 state houses of assembly are scheduled for February 28, 2015. The Ekiti State governorship election is to hold on June 21, 2014 while that of Osun State will hold on August 9, 2014.

INEC To Spend N93 Billion For 2015 Elections..

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has said INEC would require a total sum of N92.904billion to conduct the 2015 general elections. He also hinted that the Commission is working towards conducting the coming general elections between January and February 2015, just as he said that elections would not hold in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states where there is state of emergency, if the security situation in those areas did not improve before the election. Jega stated that the Commission currently has a total of 73.5 million registered voters for the 2015 elections for which INEC would spend $7.9 each voter.
The total conservative amount of N92.904billion required by INEC for the conduct of the 2015 elections, is an increase of about $7.9billion from a total of $85billion given to the Commission by the Federal Government from the Special Fund Account, to conduct the 2011 polls. INEC had spent $8.8 per voter in 2011, representing almost a 10 percent increase in the $7.9 which would be expended on each voter in the coming 2015 elections.

The INEC Chairman if he so chooses may analyze the N95 billion more than he has already, it still doesn’t justify the amount to be spent of the forth coming 2015 elections.
I understand that with the population of Nigeria, a lot of money will be inevitably spent of conducting elections, however the 93 billion being proposed is an insane amount.
In a country that grossly lacks infrastructural development and  75% of its citizens still live below a dollar a day, it is preposterous to spend such an amount on elections.(that will most likely not end up being free and fair.