INEC Assures Nigerians That General Elections Will Hold as Scheduled Despite Naira, Petrol Scarcity

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, says the forthcoming elections will hold as planned, TheCable reports. 

 Yakubu spoke on Wednesday during a meeting with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. 

 The INEC chairman’s statement comes as Nigerians across the country battle with the scarcity of petrol and new naira notes. 

 Concerns have been raised about how the situation may affect the conduct of the forthcoming presidential and governorship elections on February 25 and March 11 respectively.

Asked to provide insight on the meeting, he said: “It is a general briefing. It’s in keeping with the tradition that on the eve of major elections, general elections in particular, the Commission is invited to brief Council. It is also invited to brief the Council of State. 

The briefing for the Council of State is going to take place on Friday, the 10th. So, it’s about the readiness of the Commission to conduct the elections. 

 “So, we took members of Council through all the preparations that we have put in place for the election and the few challenges that we are facing and the steps that we have taken to address those challenges. “I can tell you two of these challenges quickly.

 The first one is the availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and they raised that as an issue of concern. “Immediately after that meeting, we interfaced with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and right now, a technical committee is working. 

 “The idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 land mega stations as well as floating mega stations nationwide, to stock products to ensure that the Commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in the movement of personnel and materials for the election. 

 “The second one is the currency issue. Again, we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of the Central Bank, and he assured us that the Commission will not suffer any encumbrances on that score.

 “Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state, are held by the apex bank. 

 “So, we raised those challenges, but we have found a solution to those challenges. So, be rest assured that the election will hold as scheduled; on the 25th of February for the national and on the 11th of March for the state election.”