INEC shifts election in trouble spots

There will be no gubernatorial election next Tuesday in Kaduna and Bauchi States, where sporadic violence broke out after last Saturday’s presidential election.

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, announced at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, that the governorship election in the two states would hold on the 28th of April, instead of the earlier scheduled date of the 26th for all gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The volatile situation in the states was cited for the shift.

Concerned individuals and groups, including the Independent Election Monitoring Group (IEMG) had earlier called for the postponement of elections in states affected by post-election violence.

IEMG National Coordinator, Barrister Festus Okoye, said postponement was a wise way of avoiding further breakdown of law and order.

Jega also dismissed reports that members of the Youth Service Corps had decided to withdraw their services as electoral officers.

He said the false reports were masterminded by dubious individuals who used a paid message platform to spread the rumour.