BREAKING: INEC bows to pressure, postpones Edo governorship election

Posted by Mayowa Okekale, Abuja | 8 September 2016 | 2,728 times

After much gra-gra, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday evening made a U-Turn and agreed to postpone the Edo State governorship election earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

The Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) had on Wednesday jointly advised INEC to postpone the ballot based on “credible intelligence reports” that Boko Haram terrorists might launch attacks in the state during the election.

INEC, however, had for 24 hours insisted on proceeding with the exercise but finally buckled under pressure.

An authoritative source told News Express that the electoral umpire had to surrender when Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, told it pointblank: “I will not provide security for the elections.”

Mr. Idris is believed to have taken the stand to please the Presidency, which also favoured the postponement of the ballot in the state presently controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but being hotly contested by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

•Photo shows INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Source: News Express