2015 ELECTIONS WILL BE POSTPONED -GOV MARTIN ELECHI

statement today by Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, that the 2015 elections will be “postponed” on account of the insecurity in the country, has renewed fears that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have perfected a plan to abort the process.

A report in The Nation newspaper said the governor made the remark in Abakaliki where he spoke to the media as part of activities marking the country’s 54th independence anniversary. Ebonyi is also celebrating the 18th anniversary of its creation.

In response to a rather innocuous question about his successor, Mr. Elechi asked: “What if the elections don’t come? You should pray more that we overcome the destabilizing factors that are shaking the entire nation with probability. I’m not saying that they will succeed, but with probability of stalling all elections. If the nation is at war and this is a constitutional provision such that elections can’t be held, elections will be postponed.”

The imagery of war was first used exactly two weeks ago, on September 16, by the President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark, who said during a debate in the House that the 2015 election was "not on the table" because the nation was “at war” with Boko Haram.

"There is no question of election; it is not even on the table now,” were his precise words.  

“We are in a state of war," he declared.  

The timing of Mr. Mark’s words on the very day that the National Assembly reconvened after a recess suggested the matter may have been agreed uponduring that period, leading to his flying the kite at the first opportunity.  That opportunity was provided by a “debate” on a motion moved by PDP Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and many of his colleagues in the PDP on "Threat to National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Nigeria by Insurgents.”

It may also be noted that in his contribution to that activity, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, also of the PDP, echoed the same refrain that the 2015 general elections could suffer “serious problems,” and that the constitution is categorical that in an event of war, elections could be aborted.