"Election in states under Emergency Rule is possible" - INEC

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria, Professor Attahiru Jega, says the successful conduct of by-elections in Yobe State is an indication that the commission will be able to conduct elections in the three northern states under emergency rule in 2015.

In a meeting in Abuja on Monday, Professor Jega said INEC successfully conducted State Assembly elections in Yobe State last Saturday despite the security crises in the state.

The by-election was for the Nangere Constituency of the State House of Assembly where the seat has been vacant after the member representing the constituency Adamu Degubi was killed by gunmen in June 2012.

“We in INEC are committed to ensuring that the 2015 general elections are much better than 2011 general elections. We have been doing everything possible to keep on improving on the process.

“No election has held conducted in Yobe State in the last two years because of security challenges.

“From all the reports that we received, the by-election was one of the best elections that we have conducted so far in terms of turn out and in terms of commencement on time. All polling units were ready for the election before 7:30am,” Professor Jega said.

The electoral body chairman stressed that the success recorded in the election illustrated how committed the commission was to improving the electoral process.

“If anybody had any doubts as to our preparedness to conduct any election in the three states, this is a clear evidence that we are prepared to do it and do it well under any circumstances,” Professor Jega said.

Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States have been under emergency rule for over one year due to increasing attacks on villages in the states by members of a terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The group is currently holding over 200 girls that were abducted from a school dormitory in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.

The military said last week that it had identified the location of the girls, promising that they would be rescued soon.