JUST IN: INEC Postpones Presidential Election Till February 23

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
postponed the general elections by a week.

This means that the Presidential and National Assembly
elections, initially scheduled for today, February 16, will now
hold on February 23, while the governorship and
state houses of assembly elections will take place on March
9.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced the decision
at a short press briefing at 2:44 am on Saturday morning.

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”.

The press briefing followed a crucial meeting of the INEC boss
with the 12 National Commissioners of the commission which started
late on Friday night.

The polls were shifted despite earlier assurance by the INEC
boss that the commission has no plan to postpone the elections.

Professor Yakubu’s announcement confirms speculations that the
electoral umpire would shift the polls after encountering
challenges in the distribution of electoral materials.

While the INEC officials were holding the meeting, the Chief
Press Secretary to Professor Yakubu, Mr Rotomi Oyekanmi, had
informed reporters that the commission had taken a decision about
the elections.

He, however, declined to give the details of what was discussed
at the meeting, saying the INEC chairman was billed to address
Nigerians later after the meeting.