Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured prospective voters that the elections now scheduled for March 28 will proceed as planned despite concerns the vote could be postponed again for security reasons. The general election, originally set for February 14, was postponed by the INEC, which cited security challenges in parts of the country’s north, where Boko Haram militants often attack civilians. Nick Dazang, INEC’s deputy director for public affairs, said the electoral body is using the postponement period to strengthen systems to ensure a transparent, credible, free and fair election. Dazang spoke after opposition groups including the All Progressives Congress led by retired General Muhammadu Buhari said they will not accept another “unconstitutional” postponement of the election.
Dazang said it is unlikely the March 28 election would be postponed again. “We have used the period of extension to further perfect the processes we have put in place,” he said.
“For us, we want to restate that as of now, we are ready for the elections in terms of the materials we have deployed, in terms of training, in terms of even the psychology and motivation of adhoc staff.We are ready for that and we expect all stakeholders in the process to play their roles in such a manner that we will have elections that are superior to the ones that we conducted in 2011,” he added.
Full Article: Nigeria Electoral Body Reassures Public Over March Election.
