The National Council of States meeting called to discuss issues about the the nation’s security challenges and the forthcoming elections has ended.At the end of the eight-hour meeting, members insisted the general elections must proceed as scheduled, reporters were told.Members also agreed that elections could be postponed in troubled zones — areas ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.Nigerians had watched out for the outcome of the meeting all day giving the alleged plot by government to force INEC to shift the elections.More details about the outcome of the meeting to come later.
President Goodluck Jonathan presided over the Council of State meeting, where national issues bordering on the nation’s security and the elections were deliberated upon.
All former Presidents and Heads of State — Shehu Shagari, Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Interim National Government President Ernest Shonekan — except Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, attended the meeting.
Other participants were Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Musdafa Belgore.
Governors of Anambra, Kogi, Katsina, Kano, Osun, Imo, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Cross River, Enugu and Delta states were also in attendance.
Also present are Govs. of Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, acting governor of Taraba while Abia, Oyo and Borno were represented by their deputy governors.
The National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), FCT Minister Bala Muhammed and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke also attended.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, [INEC], Attahiru Jega, and the nation’s security chiefs made presentation to the meeting, which started around 11.56 a.m. and ended after 7.pm.
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