Polls will hold Mar. 28, Apr. 11 – NIA

monjola sotubo

March 13, 2015 9:52 AM

The polls were originally slated for February 14 and 28 but were postponed to March 28 and April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke has said that Nigeria’s general elections will hold as scheduled.

The polls were originally slated for February 14 and 28 but were postponed to March 28 and April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Oke gave the assurance on Wednesday, March 11 while speaking at Atlantic Council in Washington D.C.

He added that the Federal Government is doing everything necessary to remove the social and security challenges that had caused the initial poll shift.

“The March 28 and April 11 elections will take place. The inauguration date of May 29 is sacrosanct,” Oke said.

“The postponement was justified by multiple factors. One major factor is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was behind in distributing required voter identification cards,” he added.

He also spoke on the insecurity in the North of Nigeria promising that the army would take full control.

“Before March 28, no town or village will remain under the control of Boko Haram,” Oke said.

The elections were postponed by INEC after relevant security agencies stated that they wouldn’t be available to provide protection during the polls due to the fight against Boko Haram.

monjola sotubo