Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has announced the postponement of today’s presidential and National Assembly election till February 23. The governorship and state assembly elections will now hold on March 9.
#INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu,while briefing newsmen at the commission’s headquarters, announced that continuing with the election as earlier scheduled for today, 16th February, 2019, was no longer feasible.
He said the decision was taken after a careful review of the plan for the exercise.
“Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible,” he said.
“Consequently, the commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23 February 2019.
“Furthermore, the Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections is rescheduled to Saturday 9th March 2019. This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections.
“This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy.”
He announced that the commission will meet key stakeholders to update them on the development at 2pm on Saturday.
INEC had summoned stakeholders to an emergency meeting on Friday night following logistics problem in some states.
In Ekiti state, electoral materials had not arrived some areas as of 9pm. There were also issues in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Taraba and Rivers.
In 2011, the national assembly elections were postponed because of insufficient materials shortly after voting had commenced nationwide.
Four years later, elections were moved by six weeks to allow the military tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east, although many thought it was because the incumbent government was afraid of losing.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a civil society organisations (CSO) working in support of credible and transparent elections, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not conduct staggered elections.
There are reports that the commission may resort to this as a result of some logistics challenges. Electoral materials did not get to some states early enough.
In a statement on Saturday, Clement Nwankwo, executive director, Policy and Legal Advocacy
Centre (PLAC) and convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, expressed disappointment that INEC could experience such setback despite saying it was fully prepared for the exercise.
“The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room hereby expresses concern over reports of delay in the distribution of election materials in several parts of the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2019 Nigeria General Elections,” the statement read.
“Reports reaching Situation Room indicate inadequacy in the deployment of materials for the polls. Against the background of assurances given by INEC on its preparedness, this current situation comes to us as a disappointment. Situation Room calls on INEC to be upfront, truthful and transparent with the Nigerian people with respect to the challenges they are facing that may affect the polls. The Situation Room wishes to state categorically that any assessment or decision by INEC regarding the polls or challenges with materials must be made with respect to the whole country and not in any way focused on some parts of the country. Any suggestion that the election be held in a staggered manner will be totally unacceptable, and would be a recipe for a disastrous election.
INEC owes it to Nigerians to provide clear explanation on why we are having conversations about deployment of materials in this late hour. The credibility of election depends not just on the efficiency of INEC to manage its processes but also in its ability to communicate honestly with the stakeholders. We call on all stakeholders especially the political parties to approach any challenge this process throws up with patriotism and commitment to peaceful and legal resolution of conflicts.
