INEC COMPROMISED
– RE-CONFIGURES CARD READERS, WARNS POLITICIANS AGAINST HEATING UP THE POLITY
With the emerging information on the vexatious postponement of February 16 presidential and national assembly elections, it is trite that Independent National Electoral Commission may not be totally free from compromises.
The ongoing re-configuration of 180, 000 card readers may not be unconnected with the conspiracy theory of compromises. The issue may not also be unconnected with some political jobbers who were caught with sensitive materials.
Meanwhile Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has reassured Nigerians of free, fair and credible election during the February 23rd, 2019 rescheduled election.
The INEC boss made the remark while addressing a press conference, today, in Abuja.
Mahmood, in response to the accusations and counter-accusations between the major political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress Party and the lead opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, warns politicians against heating up the system.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, lifted ban on campaign this evening, rescinding its previous directives that campaigns remained suspended.
The development was disclosed in a statement credited to the Chairman, Committee on Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, saying that campaigns will continue till Thursday, February 21, 2019.
It will be recalled that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, had countered the campaign suspension through its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole during the APC Caucus meeting this evening, which held in Abuja.
In the same vein the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had also insisted on reopening political campaigns at various levels.
The stance of the political parties stems from section 99 sub section 1 of the electoral act which prescribes that political parties are legally allowed to stop campaign 24 hours to the election date.
The vexatious issue is not unconnected with the sudden postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections at about 2:45 am of February 16, 2019, the supposed date slated for the elections.
On the ground of the postponement, various sections of the public have protested the action of INEC while others hailed their decision as long as it will make them deliver free, fair and credible elections.
