There were mixed reactions to the timetable for 2011 general elections released yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), congratulated INEC for bringing out the time table, "even though it comes a little late," said Prof. Rufa'I Ahmad Alkali, adding, "We have just received the news about the release of the time table. I am now on my way home from a meeting; but we will study it and make a formal statement at the appropriate time."

PDP was not, however resting on its oars while waiting for the time table, said Alkali. "We, as a party, have been working round the clock to put things in order, in anticipation of the time table. Even though many people and political parties are complaining about lack of adequate time, we believe that the leadership of Jega is equal to the task; and INEC will give us free, fair and credible elections. We know that it is a big task; but we know Professor Jega can deliver."

The PDP spokesman called on all the other political parties to "Operate under the laws. That's the only way we can have free, fair and credible elections. The issue is not only about having all the time we need in the world but by operating under the law."

Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, expressed optimism just as he called on all stakeholders to assist the commission achieve its objective of conducting a free and polls next year.

He, however, expressed reservations over INEC's plan to commence the elections with the presidential poll, which he said should have been the last in the calendar.

"The INEC has performed its statutory function as prescribed by the law. It is now left for us (APGA) to cue in into it to know how to prepare for it. The only draw back is that we would have preferred that the presidential election comes last."

Alhaji Lai Muhammed, national publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said his party would have preffered that the electoral body shift the election to April for it to adequatly prepared for the poll but that since it has insisted in going ahead, Nigerians should rally round the commission.

He said if the poll had been shifted it would have allowed Professor Attahiru Jega enough time to study the situation he met on ground and do a good job in conducting free, fair and credible polls.

Speaking in the same vein, National coordinator of the Save Nigeria Group, Yinka Odumakin said "we must girds our loins and cooperate with INEC to ensure that we make the best out of this tight situation."

He added that the forthcoming election as the last chance for restoring the sanctity of the ballot box Nigeria.

On his part, a presidential aspirant, Chief Dele Momodu expressed his readiness for the polls, "I think most people (aspirants) are not ready for the election but I can tell you that I am ready for the election."

Reacting to the timetable the leader of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and former governor of Kaduna State Alhaji Balarabe Musa said that the time table came late.

According to him, the INEC should have issued the electoral guidelines long before now to enable the political parties prepare ahead. "With the delay in the issuance of the election guidelines most of us are expecting foul play. We are going to study the guidelines and see how we can meet up with the timetable. We have form a coalition party to come up with a formidable candidate that will beat every candidate in the up coming presidential election", Musa said.

On its part, The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) said that it would study the timetable before making its position known to Nigerians.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP last night, the personal assistant to the ANPP transition committee chairman who is also the Adamawa State chairman of the party, Alhaji Umar Duhu conceded that they have been waiting for the INEC timetable, which according to him will now give them a new direction in carrying out the affairs of the party.

"You know our party is expected to conduct its convention between September 17 and 18 2010. If we have our party leadership in place, we will now move ahead and see how we can meet up with the INEC demand."

Also reacting, the National Conscience Party (NCP), described the INEC guidelines as a welcome development but sounded a note of caution that the time was too tight and would put the political parties in to rush to bring out its candidates.

The secretary of the NCP Alhaji T. Tanko advised INEC to ensure that voters are registered and equally mobilized to come out and register using the political parties.

But the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) said last night that INEC timetable is "a race against time". "This is the situation from all indications. One is at loss how the Chinese four companies would be able to meet the target of manufacturing 120, 000 Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines within the time frame. The timetable signposts the danger ahead," Osita Okechukwu stated.

Also reacting, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) conceded that, "we are ready for the elections. We are of the opinion that the time frame is very tight. If Jega have time, we believe he can deliver credible elections. All political parties are ready but a little time shift would have given Nigeria a better result; the way things are now, I don't think PDP want us to get things right."

Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar's spokesman Garba Shehu, said, "Atiku is concerned that the timing and the schedule are too tight; and this can be a threat to free, fair and credible elections. He believes, for instance, that voters would not have a good opportunity to know the candidates and their programmes very well and would, therefore, find it very difficult to make informed choices."