There are no plans to postpone the 2019 general elections as insinuated in some quarters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.
The commission in apparent reaction to a report in one of the national dailies said that the newspaperโs headline โWe May Shift 2019 Polls Over Threat Of Violence โ INECโ did not reflect correctly the statement of INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Security (ICCES) meeting.
In a statement signed by Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman the commission claimed that at no point during his remarks did the INEC Chairman allude to the notion that the Commission โmay shift 2019 polls over threat of violenceโ as reported by the national newspaper.
The statement reads: โOur attention has been drawn to a story with the headline โ We May Shift 2019 Polls Over Threat Of Violence โ INEC โ which appeared on the front page of a national newspapers today, but which did not correctly reflect what the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting that took place at the Commissionโs headquarters on 11th September 2018.
โIt is common knowledge that the Osun State governorship election will hold on Saturday 22nd September, while the 2019 General Elections are only 156 days away. The ICCES meeting, which takes place on a regular, quarterly basis, provides an opportunity for INEC and security agencies to evaluate and discuss the countryโs security situation, with the aim of putting the necessary measures in place to enable the Commission carry out its mandate.
โIn his remarks at the meeting, the INEC Chairman told the security chiefs that with the 2019 general elections drawing close, the Committee would need to meet more frequently to constantly assess the security situation across the country and take proactive actions to forestall any unpleasant event before, during and immediately after the elections.
โHe underscored the fact that elections cannot be conducted under a rancorous atmosphere. He referred to Section 26 of the Electoral Act which, among others, gives the Commission the power to postpone an election โif there is reason to believe that a serious breach of peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on (the fixed date)โ, or as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies.
โProf. Yakubu made this reference to the Electoral Act only to underscore the importance of having peace and order in place before, during and after elections and to emphasize the significance of the synergy between the Commission and security agencies.
โHe also noted that the most important assignment before the Commission was the Osun governorship election, adding the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mr. Segun Agbaje and Commissioner of Police for Osun state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye would brief the Committee on the current situation and state of readiness for the governorship poll. (Both Agbaje and Adeoye later briefed the audience).
โBesides, he spoke on the rising phenomenon of vote buying and selling and harped on the need for collaborative effort to decisively tackle the menace and prevent it during the Osun governorship election. He said a Code of Conduct for security agents would be enforced during the elections and warned that any activity outside the confines of legality/ legitimacy will be viewed seriously.
โThe INEC Chairman also seized the opportunity to draw the Committeeโs attention to a video clip making the rounds, in which some political actors were seen making inciteful statements that could lead to serious security breaches before, during and after the 2019 general elections. He called on the relevant security agencies to be vigilant, just as he urged them to take immediate action on the development.
โHe commended members of the Committee for their cooperation, which makes it possible for INEC to conduct credible elections.
โIt is thus clear that at no point during his remarks did the INEC Chairman allude to the notion that the Commission โmay shift 2019 polls over threat of violenceโ as reported by the national newspaper.
โTo be sure, INEC has no plan to postpone the 2019 General Elections.โ
