Chief Adebayo Adedeji Adefarati, (December 21, 1930 - March 29, 2007) who is an indigene of Akungba -Akoko in Ondo State, was former governor of Ondo State and current Presidential candidate of Alliance for Democracy died today at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State after a brief illness.
Chief Adebayo Adedeji Adefarati, (December 21, 1930 - March 29, 2007) who is an indigene of Akungba -Akoko in Ondo State, was former governor of Ondo State and current Presidential candidate of Alliance for Democracy died today at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State after a brief illness.
It is not clear if his death will lead to the postponement of the upcoming general elections as prescribed by the Electoral Act signed into law by President Obasanjo yesterday.
Already, INEC had complained that several litigations might force it to postpone the elections but critics are quick to point out that INEC was poorly prepared for the elections and as such was using the litigations as excuse to cover up its poor preparations.
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An INEC commissioner who confided in Saharareporters, had said, "even if the UN was to move it's headquarters to Nigeria, it will be impossible to carry out proper election in three weeks based upon the preparations on the ground". The official who said the printing of Voters Cards and Ballot Papers was yet to reach any serious level as of today.
Last week, the Attorney General Mr. Bayo Ojo had hinted that 'INEC didn't have enough time' to organize for the elections, but publicly President Obasanjo and the INEC Chairman, Professor Iwu continues to grandstand over the "readiness" of the government to hold free and fair elections.
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The current Electoral Act of 2006 is explicit about what will happen to the transition program if a presidential candidate dies.
Section 37 (1) of the 2006 Electoral Act grants the Independent National Electoral Commission the power to postpone elections indefinitely in case of death of one of the Presidential candidates.
The section reads: "If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election.”
The Electoral Act of 2006 was enacted into law during the height of the Anti-Third term debate, it did not state for how long INEC may postpone general elections in the case of the death of a Presidential candidate.
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