TheCable

Senators who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are insisting that the service chiefs be summoned to explain their role in the postponement of the general election.

The general election originally scheduled for February 14 and 28 was moved to March 28 and April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On Tuesday, the senate summoned Jega but left out the service chiefs.

But speaking at a press conference at the national assembly complex afterwards, Bukola Saraki, senator representing Kwara central, stated that the main focus of the senate should be to summon the service chiefs to explain why they advised INEC to postpone the elections on the grounds of security.

Saraki also argued that summoning the service chiefs was imperative in view of the need to ascertain‎ readiness of the security forces for the general election.

On his part, Danjuma Goje, a former governor of Gombe state and senator representing Gombe central, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was ‎plotting to use the issue of card readers to scuttle the elections.

He maintained that those behind the postponement of the elections who had hinged their reasons on low distribution of permanent voter cards and later on security concerns were scheming to use the card readers as a basis for scuttling the elections.

The senator added that the card readers, which would be used for accreditation during‎ elections, would reduce rigging, but he wondered why PDP was kicking against its use.

Also speaking, George Akume, senate minority leader representing Benue north-west‎, stated that the rescheduled election dates were sacrosanct, adding that APC would not accept any further postponement.

‎He also insisted that the service chiefs be summoned.