El-Rufa’i: Further polls shift invitation to instability

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Saturday announced the postponement of the earlier schedule February 14 and 28 elections by six weeks to enable the military to tackle the insurgency.But speaking at a peace meeting with the police and security forces in Kaduna, where all candidates signed peace pact, el-Rufa’i said elections should […]

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Saturday announced the postponement of the earlier schedule February 14 and 28 elections by six weeks to enable the military to tackle the insurgency.
But speaking at a peace meeting with the police and security forces in Kaduna, where all candidates signed peace pact, el-Rufa’i said elections should not be postponed again in whatever guise by either the government or INEC because doing so would create general instability.
“Send this message to the government that any attempt to shift election days again will throw this peace accord in the air,” he told the police.
Governorship candidate of the Labour Party James Bawa Magaji said INEC must convey elections material to polling units early and all ballot papers must be intact.
But Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7 Patrick Dokumo said it was not his responsibility to tell the government what to do regarding elections.
However, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state Usaini Ahmed Mahuta said they would ensure free and fair elections but called on politicians to conduct campaigns peacefully.
He said the number of people voting would not exceed 750 in each polling unit.