“INEC Retains Stand On 2019 Election Timetable”

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to put assent to the National Assembly’s amendment of the Electoral Act.

The Director, INEC Voters Education and Publicity, Oluwole Uzzi, when contacted by newsmen, said, “We would work with the existing arrangement. The status quo remains.”

When asked if the National Assembly has the powers to re-order the sequence of elections in the country, he said; “that would be for the lawyers to decide.”

Recall that the national electoral umpire had earlier announced that the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 16, while that of the Governorship and State Assembly would hold on 2nd March.

But the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act in such a manner that the National Assembly polls would be first conducted before the presidential election.

But on Tuesday, a communication was read from President Muhammadu Buhari during Senate plenary which announced his rejection of the bill amending the Electoral Act.