Nigeria Decide 2019: See Shocking Truths Why INEC Postpone Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has explained why it postponed the general elections earlier scheduled for Saturday, 16th February, 2019. The commission shifted the election by one week, explaining how difficult it was for it to shift the general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who briefed journalists at about 2:43am on Saturday, in Abuja, said the commission had met on Friday, 15th February 2019 and reviewed its preparations for the 2019 General Elections earlier scheduled for Saturday, and therefore, shifted the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Saturday, 23rd February 2019.

He said the commission would later in the day be meeting with key stakeholders at the International Conference Centre, Abuja to discuss issues surrounding the development. According to him, “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible, said Yakubu.

He said, “consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23rd February 2019. Furthermore, the Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections is rescheduled to Saturday 9th March 2019. This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections.

“This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy. “The Commission will meet key stakeholders to update them on this development at 2pm on Saturday, 16th February 2019 at the Abuja international Conference Centre”, he added.”

General elections will be held in Nigeria on 23 February 2019, postponed from 16 February 2019, to elect the President, Vice President and the National Assembly. They will be the sixth quadrennial elections since the end of military rule in 1999. Presidential primaries are likely to be held during the last six months of 2018.The President of Nigeria is elected using a modified two round system, to be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round is held.

The 360 members of the House of Representatives are elected to 4-year terms, concurrent with the president, using first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies. The 109 members of the Senate are elected to 4-year terms, concurrent with the president, from 108 single-seat constituencies into which the States are divided (three each) and one single-seat constituency consisting the Federal Capital Territory, all by first-past-the-post voting.