BREAKING: INEC POSTPONES ELECTIONS BY ONE WEEK

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the 2019 general election by one week.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections initially scheduled for today, Saturday 16 of February, have been postponed to February 23, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are shifted from March 2 to March 9, 2019.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who made this known in Abuja after a meeting with National Commissioners at the Commission’s headquarters, blamed the postponement on logistics issues.

He added that the shift in date was to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

According to the INEC boss, the commission will meet with key stakeholders on Saturday February 16 by 2pm at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, to brief them on the development.

Meanwhile the People’s Democratic Party, PDP has rejected the postponement of the elections.

PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, alleged that the shoddy preparations for the elections by INEC was a deliberate plan by President Mohammadu Buhari to remain in power.

A statement by the Media aide to the PDP National Chairman, Mr. Ike Abonyi called on the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to resign, accusing him of conniving with the All Progressives Congress, APC to favour its presidential candidate.

The statement claimed that the PDP was aware that the failure of secret plot by the ruling APC and INEC to rig the election forced the commission to shift the polls.

“With several of their rigging options failing, they have to force INEC to agree to a shift in the election or a staggered election with flimsy excuses pre manufactured for the purpose.

“For the avoidance of doubt the PDP sees this action as wicked and we are also aware of other dubious designs like the deployment of hooded security operatives who would be ruthless on the people ostensibly to scare them away,” the statement added.

The statement pointed out the PDP would not accept any form of ploy to manipulate the elections.

CHUKWUBUIKE MADU