The rescheduling of the upcoming governorship elections across Nigeria has got tongues wagging.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a statement on Wednesday night, says the elections would not hold on March 11, as earlier scheduled.
It says the gubernatorial elections would now take place on March 18, 2023.
The reason is because of a court’s ruling on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
INEC urges governorship candidates to continue with their campaigns until midnight of Thursday, March 16.
Mixed Reaction
The development sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Some commend the electoral body for postponing the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
Others berates the Commission for not being reliable and transparent.
See some reactions below
@Ellacious_berry: “What a country after 62 years we can’t run ordinary election giant of Africa Indeed. 301 billion naira for this level of unpreparedness should be a criminal offence!! Shame on you INEC”.
@alhassan_ai: “Thank you INEC for staying steadfast to fair and transparent elections. Thank you professor Mahmud Yakubu. Indeed this is the fairest election in the history of Nigeria”.
@ladkings: “4 years, 300b Naira you couldn’t conduct a simple election….print papers, have voters’ thumbprint on them, and count, what a rocket science”.
@SalimToro2: “Thank you INEC for always working tirelessly to ensure that the gubernatorial and state assembly election is free and fair like the presidential election. May Almighty Allah bless you and reward you abundantly”.
@SeerVoice: “So had it been that INEC was not granted an order to reconfigure BVAS, governorship election would have been postponed indefinitely?”.
@moore2life: “INEC is very dishonest. Check iRev for Amuwo Odofin LGA in Lagos, for example, Senate results are uploaded in place of Presidential results for many polling units. Is that the data you want to back up? Big shame”.
Also Read: Court Okays INEC’s Move To Reconfigure BVAS
@ishagoro: “So you people can postpone but were in a rush to announce the winner of an election even when there uproar of irregularities and malpractice”.
@MaziNnamdiOnu: “The same way you assured us that BVAS would transmit election results directly from Polling units. You have failed us and have come again to make another promise abi assurance. Abegi”.
People Also Read:Â Court Permits Tinubu To Inspect Election Materials
@cuugwueze: “What stops INEC from using Blockchain technology in conducting elections in Nigeria? It’s cheaper and more transparent. It’s decentralized. Fewer ad-hoc staff will be needed, which will minimize rigging and compromise”.
@reachabi: “If you had allowed the inspection of election materials earlier; instead of resisting, would the inspection not be over by now so that you can conduct the governorship election this Saturday. INEC & CONFUSION”.
