Former Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi has proposed a shift of the handover date to October 1.

Akinyemi said the May 29 handover date may not leave enough time for conclusion of possible run-offs and resolution of electoral disputes.

Such possibilities, he said, in a letter to the Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and Speakers of Houses of Assembly would mean in-coming governments would "operate under a cloud of immorality, illegitimacy and unacceptability."

He urged lawmakers to avoid booby traps during the forthcoming amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act to safeguard the integrity of the electoral system.

"If you were to approve April as the month for the new elections without shifting the handover date, the following are the possibilities that may result.

"Firstly, in situations where run-offs are needed, in fact May 29 may arrive without any declared winner. Remember that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, we have an electoral situation where there is no anointed candidate for President."

"In all previous elections, the political and security establishment had usually anointed a candidate who had usually gone on to win the election. This time around, there is no such thing which means we are in uncharted territory which may lead to chaos next year.

"Secondly, one can say with certainty that no election dispute would have been resolved before May 29 which means governance would operate under a cloud of immorality, illegitimacy and unacceptability"

October I, he added, "used to be the legitimate handover date and as independence date, it carries a lot of sacred symbolism and legitimacy for all Nigerians.

"May 29 was an unfortunate act of rascality by the military which has no symbolism to Nigerians."

October 1 handover date, he said, "will address all the mischief identified".

To foreclose unconstitutional tenure extension for current political office holders, Akinyemi suggested that heads of the judiciary at the federal and state levels should be in charge from May 29 till the newly-elected candidates are sworn in.

This model, he disclosed, has been tested successfully in Bangladesh.

Akinyemi stressed that "for the four months between May 29 and October 1 2011, the Chief Justice of the Federation should administer the Federal Government, while the Chief Judge in each state should administer the state."

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