BREAKING: Yakubu Follows In Jega’s Footsteps, Postpones Elections

In what is reminiscent of the 2015 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a shift in the 2019 general election earlier scheduled for February 16, and March

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a stakeholders meeting late Friday night at the commission’s headquarters announced the shift, citing logistics difficulties.

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The postponement is coming despite several assurances by officials of the commission that all arrangements are in place for a successful, free and credible process.

In 2015, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Yakubu’s predecessor, had shifted the poll slated for February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, respectively.

Jega said the elections have to be postponed after the nation’s security agencies indicated to the commission that they were not available to support the elections planned for February 14 and 28.

Jega had said security agencies told INEC that they were commencing a six-week special operation against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and would rather not be distracted by the elections.

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This decision by the security forces, he said, rendered INEC’s readiness and hitherto insistence to go ahead with the elections a risky venture.

In Niger state for instance, the commission had reported that ballot papers meant for Niger East and Niger North senatorial districts are missing.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Samuel Egwu, made the declaration while interacting with journalists in Minna.

“The issue has been reported to the INEC’s Headquarters in Abuja for urgent attention.

“The officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of securing the electoral sensitive materials have gone to Abuja for the last batch of the sensitive materials for Saturday’s elections in the state, so we are waiting,’’ he said.

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