The presidential election will no more hold on Saturday, February 16 as the Independent Electoral Commission has postponed it.
It has been shifted to Saturday, February 23.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known in the early hours of Saturday after having an emergency session with its 12 commissioners.
He said, “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.”
Many people had, as of Friday evening, feared that INEC might have to postpone the poll.
As of the time, election materials and a good number of officers and those who will work with them had not been mobilised.
