Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started count down to the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said it was fully prepared in terms of strategic planning.
Yakubu, who gave update on preparations for the poll yesterday at the swearing in of nine newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, said that it is now exactly 548 days to general elections.
According to the INEC timetable, Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday 16th February 2019 while Governorship, State Assembly and Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will hold two weeks later on Saturday 2nd March 2019.
“In terms of strategic planning, we are prepared for 2019. Furthermore, we are already taking practical steps towards actualising the Strategic Plan. The complimentary document, the Election Project Plan, is almost ready. Very soon, the Election Management System that will enable us track activities almost on daily basis will be ready,” he said.
The INEC chairman again dismissed doubts over the readiness of the commission to deliver credible election, adding that going by the outcome of recent elections conducted by INEC, it is clear that votes count
“We shall continue to uphold the sanctity of citizens’ choice as the only basis for determining elective representation in Nigeria.”
He told the new resident commissioners that they were fortunate to be assuming duty at the time when the commission is almost done with preparatory activities for the 2019 election.’
On the Commission’s engagements during later part of the year, Yakubu said the Commission would be conducting four elections in quick succession in the next few months,
The elections are for Dukku North State Constituency bye-election in Gombe state is holding this weekend to be followed by the Eti Osa I State Constituency in Lagos state, Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency in Sokoto state and the end of tenure Governorship election in Anambra state has been scheduled to hold on November 18.
The nine Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) sworn in yesterday were Mrs. Asman Sani Maikudi, Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun, Prof. Riskuww A. Shehu , Kassim Gana Giedam, Jibrin Ibrahim Zerawa, Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji, Prof. Sam Egwu, Mike A. igini and Malam Sadiq Musa
