SHIFT IN ELECTIONS: ELECTORAL COMMISSION BLAMES ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE EXERCISE
He also listed delays in delivering ballot papers and result sheets, occasioned in part by flight challenges due to bad weather, and added that fire outbreaks at commission’s facilities that destroyed smart card readers and voter cards.
The commission announced the shocking decision just hours before the opening of polls after repeatedly assuring Nigerians and international observers it was ready for the crucial elections. It blamed logistics problems but did not give details at first.
Penpushing further reports that, Yakubu said despite those setbacks, the commission rapidly recovered by mopping up available card readers elsewhere, noting that if the polls had gone ahead, it would have meant some States starting well ahead of others with the implication of the elections being staggered.
“Faced with these challenges, we initially thought that we only required a maximum of 24 hours to resolve the logistics issues involved and complete our deployment for the election. This would mean shifting the elections to commence on Sunday 17th February, 2019’.
‘However, given the restriction of movement during elections, that could affect many voters who worship on Sunday. While the commission considering the following Monday, 19th February, 2019 as an option, our ICT department advised us that it would require 5-6 days to configure about 180,000 smart card readers earlier programmed to work only on election day, Saturday, 16th February 2019.”
Penpushing also reports, that cross section of Nigerians have condemned the postponement, faulting that, the timing was wrong, and also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of insensitivity.
