INEC Shocks The World, Postpones Election

By Uche Mbah
In an unprecedented action,  the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections the same day it had been scheduled to hold. It was rescheduled  to February 23rd 2019, five hours before its commencement.
Subsequently, the Governorship and state Assembly elections were also postponed by one week.
According to INEC, the postponement was necessary because it will afford it enough time to sort out  the challenges which faced it.
However, many sensitive materials had already been distributed before the postponement, though several logistic issues were raised. Many areas were yet to receive sensitive materials by the time of the postponement.
INEC’s action was received by shocked Nigerians with outrage. Preparations have been shaky, and held in suspect by most Nigerians.
There had been reports of already thumb-printed materials in their thousands being impounded by security agents. There have been ,  snatching of sensitive materials, allegedly,  by men wearing security uniforms.   INEC offices have gone up in flames burning sensitive materials and permanent voters cards, raising questions of the fate of the people whose PVCs were burnt.
The postponement followed a marathon meeting by the Commission that ran far into the night to the wee hours of the morning. The meeting was deadlocked initially, according to sources, basically because INEC needed a cogent and acceptable reason for the postponement.
The Killings in Kaduna was considered as an excuse, but it was too localized. “INEC had to settle for the postponement based on self indictment by citing their unpreparedness for the election as reason”, says a source.
Not a few Nigerians feared
that the Presidential broadcast was allegedly  meant for the president to announce the postponement, but was, allegedly, advised that such an announcement is  meant for the INEC chairman, Mahmud Yakubu. The  speech had to be allegedly  changed at the last minute. This magazine was unable to confirm this story at the time of going to press.
This has followed the pattern of the 2015 elections where INEC also postponed the elections. President Goodluck Jonathan lost that election.
Meanwhile, campaigns and consultations have moved from the campaign grounds to diplomatic circles. The former President of the United states, Bill Clinton, called and spoke to President Buhari on phone. Although details of that conversation is not known, it is believed that  it had to do with the conduct of a violent-free and free and fair elections. On the other hand, the American secretary of state also spoke to the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the phone.
INEC will meet with critical stakeholders by 2pm today.