The Independent National Electoral Commission has put to rest speculations that it may postpone elections in some communities in the North-East, which have come under attacks of Boko Haram.
The commission, however, admitted that if not for the Nigerian Air Force, which assisted in airlifting its personnel to difficult terrains containing landmines in Borno State during the continuous voter registration, many qualified voters in those areas would have been disenfranchised.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, said with the assistance of security agencies, “elections would be conducted in all states across the country.”
According to him, INEC has maintained robust synergy with the security agencies under the aegis of the Inter Consultative Committee on Election Security.
This, he said, was why the commission had been having peaceful elections in most of the areas where elections were conducted in the last three years.
Oyekanmi said, “Postponement is not being considered. The commission maintains robust synergy with the security agencies under the aegis of the Inter Consultative Committee on Election Security, which is why we have been having peaceful elections in most of the constituencies where elections were conducted in the last three years.
“In fact, but for the Nigerian Air Force which graciously agreed to airlift the commission’s staff to difficult terrains containing landmines in Borno State during the continuous voter registration, it would have been impossible for INEC to register qualified voters in those areas at that time.
“We all agree that our armed forces are currently under pressure due to several security challenges across the country, especially in the North-East. But the commission believes that the military is equal to the task. Therefore, with their help, elections will be conducted in all states across the country.”
Punch