The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said “only an Act of God can stop the conduct of the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly election slated for Saturday.
The INEC Chairman, made this known yesterday in Abuja while addressing a cross section of the diplomatic community and international election monitoring groups in Nigeria, for the 2019 General Election.
The briefing which was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with INEC, is aimed at engaging with friends and partners of Nigeria on the rescheduled election.
Yakubu, who was represented by an INEC National Commissioner, Dr Mustapha Lecky, said that the commission had put in place everything possible to ensure the elections hold on Saturday.
The INEC boss said that the commission had no reason to feel that anything would stop the conduct of the election on Feb 23.
He said the commission has developed a six-point agenda of what needed to be done to ensure success of the election
He also said that the commission has completed the deployment of materials.
“We believe that as a prayerful nation the act of God has been assuaged and that things will go right, we have no reason to feel that anything will go wrong.
“We have received all the materials, they have been checked, audited people have been informed, party agents have gone there to check,” he said.
The official said that INEC had already taken responsibility for the postponement and that the body was committed to surpass achievement of previous elections in the country.
He blamed the postponement on logistics and problems associated with the primaries of some political parties, which according to him delayed the printing of ballot papers.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said the police was working with other security agencies to ensure maximum security during the elections.
He added that he would ensure ballot box snatchers and other criminal elements who may attempt to scuttle the polls are arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
He said, the force had taken measures to protect voters, officials as well as election observers during the polls and warned trouble makers to rethink or be made to face the consequences of their actions.
“The police will be professional, impartial and will create a level playing ground for all parties.
…to release total PVC collection figures, today
There had been claims by rival parties that INEC’s failure to disclose the total number of collected PVCs was a ploy to encourage rigging in the polls; however, all that controversy is set to be laid to bed within the next 24 hours.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Thursday announce the overall Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection ahead of the 2019 elections, its Chairman, professor Mahmud Yakubu has said.
Yakubu said this in Abuja at the day’s edition of the commission’s daily briefing with the media to update the public on its preparedness for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election.
There had been claims by rival parties that INEC’s failure to disclose the total number of collected PVCs was a ploy to encourage rigging in the polls; however, all that controversy is set to be laid to bed within the next 24 hours.
…INEC talks to NURTW, others to strengthen logistics plan
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is strengthening its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with transport unions to ensure a hitch free election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mamood Yakubu disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
Yakubu said discussions were ongoing with the unions to perfect the logistics plan.
INEC had signed an MoU with National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NATO), for efficient logistics in the general election.
“I made contact with the National Chairman of the NURTW on my way to this place.
“I shall be meeting with him tomorrow for further discussions; INEC is not under any pressure,” he said.
INEC had on Saturday shifted the Presidential and National Assembly election few hours to the event.
The commission blamed the postponement on logistics challenges that could affect the process negatively.
