'No basis to postpone polls,' INEC Chairman says no going back

dimeji akinloye

November 22, 2016 7:53 PM

INEC Chairman says according to the Electoral Act, the situation in Ondo has not warranted that the election is shifted.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),

Yakubu said the situation in Ondo has not met the conditions provided by the Electoral Act, required for an election to be postponed.

He stated this at a meeting in Akure on Tuesday, November 22.

"We have taken steps to ensure that the Ondo election is held as scheduled. INEC has no plan to postpone the election this weekend," he said.

The INEC boss said that in the case disputes within a party becomes a matter of litigation, INEC will abide by the decisions of the Court to determine the candidate of the party.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the postponement of the election based on the litigation on the rightful candidate of the party between Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim.

ALSO READ: 17 parties tell INEC to postpone Ondo election

About 16 other political parties have also asked INEC to reschedule the election.

Yakubu, however, assured that INEC will conduct the election with strict adherence to the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

"We have warned our officers to abide by the law. They have also sworn to an oath of neutrality.

"This INEC will never be compromised. Only Ondo people will determine who becomes the next governor of this state," he assured.

Meanwhile, a total of 378, 656 permanent voter cards are yet to be collected by registered voters in the state.

According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, about 1,280,580 cards have been collected out of a total of 1, 659,186.

dimeji akinloye