The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the electoral stakeholders and all and sundry not to speak anything that will further hit the polity of the nation.
Prof. Yakubu who made this known while addressing media practitioners and international observers in the country in a press conference at the International Conference Centre,Abuja, today expressed regrets on the abrupt postponement of the February 16, Presidential and National Assembly which has now been shifted to February 23 and the Governorship/ State House of Assembly elections to March 9.
The INEC Chairman who earlier cited logistics issues, late arrival and distribution of sensitive materials as the major reasons for the postponement therefore declared that the commission is fully ready for the February 23 outing having addressed the issues after a careful and thorough identification and consideration of the factors responsible for the shift.
Prof. Yakubu, however, stated that the Commission had come up with some fundamental policies that would restore confidence on the Commission and guarantee free, fair and credible elections come Saturday.
The INEC boss said the Commission has ensured that deployment of sensitive materials to the central bank and personnel to various centers have been taking care of, all registration areas are to be activated, noting that voting materials and personnel to be used for the Elections must arrive every polling unit latest 7am and accreditation starts 8am prompt, among other plans on ground.
He further said as at the time of the briefing that the Commission had achieved about 95 per cent reconfigurations and deployment of about 180,000 Smart card readers nation wide to ensure they not manipulated for rigging the elections.
