There were feelers on Wednesday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may shift the February 25 presidential election by a minimum of two weeks due to logistics issues.
Key among these challenges are the incessant burning of INEC offices across the country and the insecurity challenges in the South-East and North-East.
A senior official of the commission informed Daily Independent that while the electoral body is determined to stick to the scheduled date, recent developments in the country may force it to announce an extension.
“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 burning of our offices, insecurity challenges and attack on INEC officials, lingering fuel scarcity coupled with problems arising from the naira redesign, I won’t be surprised if the election is postponed by two weeks minimum”, the official said.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Voter Education of INEC, Festus Okoye, denied any plans of extension, saying 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, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said there are no plans to shift the elections.
“Not at all. The commission is not even contemplating shifting the 2023 general election”, he said. (Daily Independent)
