INEC maintained that the elections would go as scheduled, stressing that it is not contemplating any shift or cancellation
By Emma Ogbuehi
In an obvious damage-control measures that has incidentally turned a reversal on its earlier stance, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared that it is not in any way contemplating a shift or cancellation of the February and March general elections in the country. INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who made the declaration, cited assurances by security agencies as basis for insisting that the polls would proceed as earlier scheduled.
The Chairman, Board of The Electoral Institute (TEI), INEC’s training arm, Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, had on Monday, lamented the growing wave of election-related insecurity across the country, expressing fears that the trend, if not checked, could lead to the cancellation or postponement of the forthcoming general polls.
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He made the observation, in Abuja at the validation of election security training resources. In particular, Zuru warned that the ugly development could hinder declaration of elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis. The Commission, called for concerted efforts to stem the tide of violence.
But in a twist, Yakubu, maintained that the elections would go as scheduled, stressing that any other information to the contrary is not an official position of the Commission. The INEC Chairman made the disclosure at a meeting by the commission with the 18 political parties participating in the election.
The federal government had on Tuesday assured that the 2023 general election would not be postponed or cancelled because of insecurity.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance in Abuja at the 17th edition of President Muhammadu Buhari scorecard series from 2015-2023, adding that nothing has happened to alter the election timetable.
The assurance followed concerns raised by INEC, following rising cases of insecurity and the attack on the commission’s facilities in some parts of the country.
