The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has said it is
not contemplating any adjustment
to the election timetable, let alone
postponing the 2023 general election.
There were feelers on Wednesday
that the Commission was planning
to shift the February 25 presidential
election by a minimum of two weeks
citing logistics issues.
However, in a chat with LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday the national commissioner and chairman Information and Voter Education of INEC, Festus Okoye denied any plan for the postponement of the general election.
He reiterated that the dates fixed
for the conduct of the elections
remain firm.
“The dates fixed by the commission
for the conduct of the 2023 general
election are fixed and firm,” he said.
Also affirming Okoye’s position, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said there are no plans to shift the elections.
When asked if there were plans
to extend the polls, he said, “Not
at all. The commission is not even
contemplating shifting the 2023
general election.”
A national daily (not LEADERSHIP)
had earlier reported that while the
electoral body is determined to stick
with the scheduled date, recent
developments in the country may
force it to announce an extension.
The report noted that the Commission is doing all it can to stick to the announced dates but given the numerous challenges being witnessed across the country, such as the burning of INEC offices, insecurity challenges and attack on INEC officials, lingering fuel scarcity coupled with problems arising from the Naira redesign, the elections may be postponed.
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