The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied
the report that one of its national commissioners was arrested by
security operatives.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, faulted the claim
during a briefing on measures put in place by INEC towards
conducting credible elections after the polls were shifted.
“No Commissioner of the Commission was picked up by any security
agency,” he said in response to a question on the report on Tuesday
in Abuja.
“No house of any Commissioner of INEC was raided,” Professor
Yakubu added. “No any Commissioner of INEC has been picked up by
the security agency.”
The INEC boss disclosed that the commissioner whose name was
being circulated in the social media was in his office at the time
when he gave the briefing.
He also condemned the report that six directors were picked up
by security operatives, stressing that nothing of such
happened.
Professor Yakubu further cautioned politicians against speaking
in a manner that would overheat the polity and political
atmosphere.
Earlier, he offered his regrets over the postponement of the
elections and assured Nigerians that the electoral body under his
leadership was working towards conducting credible elections.
As part of measures to ensure that the polls were conducted on
the rescheduled dates, the INEC boss revealed that all materials
including ballot papers and result sheets were already at the
expected locations across the country.
He also said Registration Area Centres (RATs) for the elections
would be activated by 9:00am on Friday across the nation.
Professor Yakubu, however, warned officials of the commission
and ad-hoc staff against going late to their duty posts.
“Personnel and materials should be at the RATs by mid-day on
Friday,” he said.
“Personnel and materials must arrive at the polling units latest
7:00am on Saturday 23 February 2019, and the opening of polls
nationwide will take place at 8:00 in the morning on Saturday 23
February 2019.”
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