INEC Chairman briefs Buhari on election preparedness

. Says challenges of fuel, cash availability sorted out

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu on Wednesday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the preparedness of the commission towards ensuring a hitch-free election.

Speaking with the press after the meeting with the Federal Executive Council, Prof. Yakubu said meeting was in keeping with the tradition, that on the eve of major elections, general elections in particular, the Commission is invited to brief Council.

“It is also invited to brief the Council of State. The briefing for the Council of State is going to take place on Friday the 10th.

“So basically, it’s about the readiness of the commission to conduct the elections. So we took members of the Council through all the preparations that we have put in place for the election; the challenges that we have taken and the steps that we have taken to address those challenges.

“I can tell you two of these challenges quickly. The first one is the availability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and they raised that as an issue of concern.

“Immediately after that meeting, we interfaced with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.And right now there is a technical Committee working. The idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 manned Mega Stations as well as floating mega Stations nationwide for the purpose of stocking products to ensure that the Commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in the movement of personnel and materials for the election.

“The Second one is the currency issue, and again we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of the Central Bank and he assured us that the Commission will not suffer any encumbrances on that score.

“Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state are held by the apex bank. So we raised those challenges but we have found a solution to those challenges.

“So be rest assured that the elections will hold as scheduled, on the 25th of February for the National and on the 11TH of March for the State elections.”