The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria, Mahmud Yakubu, announced the shift of the gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections that were supposed to be held on March 11, 2033, to the new date of March 18, 2023.
In a news conference held in the federal capital territory of Nigeria (Abuja), Mahmood Yakub announced that the election is under the probability that it will not be held on the assigned date as a result of some technical issues.
In his speech, the INEC Chairman mentioned some of the problems facing include the high rate of network hacking by hackers, IT personnel are unable to refigure the voting machines known as Bevas, and the lack of security personnel availability.
He also stated that the reason the election day was shifted was to ensure that the election ran peacefully all over the country.
Furthermore, he called for the cooperation of traditional rulers, government officials, candidates, and the public to be law-abiding for the election to run smoothly, be free and fair, and be a successful election with zero hope of canceling or including some polling units as it had before.
On the other hand, the Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba assured the committee that there would be a full commitment and cooperation from their side, the police side, and the closest security body to grass-roots societies.
In similar events related to politics and the approaching election, the Sultan of Sokoto State, his eminence, Alh. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, called a peace accord meeting with contestants from both parties and their political leaders to sign a peace accord and take an oath that they will be loyal to the election.
The meeting, convened by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, held at his palace, was aimed at discussing measures among political leaders that will usher in sincere commitments to walk the path of peace during and after the forthcoming elections.
During the meeting, Sultan Abubakar admonished both of, the political parties and their candidates to eschew the path of any violence, saying the winner destined by God has unknowingly emerged.
A day before the election day, the newly posted Sokoto State commissioner of police in charge of gubernatorial and state house of assemblies, Mr. CP. Shettima Zanna, in line with promises and directives from the IGP, announced the restriction of any vehicle and motorcycle movement except those of
security personnel, fire outbreak aids, and emergency ambulances all over the state from 12 am to 6 pm on election day.
