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INEC postpones Governorship, House of Assembly elections as DSS alleges plans to disrupt polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 11.
In a statement on Wednesday night, INEC spokesman, Festus Okoye, said the elections will now hold on Saturday, March 18.
He said following the ruling by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used for the February 25 presidential election, the Commission met to assess its impact on its preparations for the governorship exercise.
“The Commission has taken the difficult but necessary decision to reschedule the Governorship and State Assembly elections which will now take place on Saturday 18th March 2023,” he said.
According to Okoye, political parties will continue their campaigns until midnight of Thursday, 16th March 2023 – 24 hours before the new date for the election.
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Okoye stated that though the tribunal’s ruling would enable INEC to commence the preparation of the BVAS for the governorship and state assembly elections, it is too late for the reconfiguration to be concluded.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has alleged that there are “orchestrated plans” by some persons to cause a total breakdown of law and order and disrupt the scheduled elections in parts of the Federation.
DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Wednesday, however, warned the individuals or groups no matter how highly placed they are to abort such plans.
The secret service, therefore, cautioned political players to be law-abiding as Nigerians head to the polls for the governorship and state assemblies elections.
The DSS said it is committed to the safety and security of citizens who may wish to go out to exercise their civic responsibility.
“All and sundry are, therefore, enjoined to abide by the rules of engagement particularly the Electoral Act and extant guidelines,” the statement added.
