The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked the rumour that it has shifted Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections slated for late this year, describing the reports as unfounded and misleading.
INEC had fixed September 19 and October 10 for Edo and Ondo elections respectively for the elections before the outbreak of the pandemic.
One of the National Dailies had reported that the Commission will shift the dates of the governorship elections as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
But the Commission described the report as speculative and incorrect, adding that it gives a totally wrong impression.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu said that the decision to change the dates already announced for the elections is a serious matter, which only the Commission can take.
According to him, “let me state here that the decision to change the dates already announced for the two elections is a very serious matter. Only the Commission can take that decision and it has to be officially communicated via a press statement.
“However, it appears that what some Editors are really looking for is for INEC to declare that it is postponing the Edo & Ondo governorship elections. But they cannot and should not put words in the Commission’s mouth! There is nowhere in Okoye’s response where he expressly declared that the elections will be postponed.
“So casting the headline:” INEC to Shift Edo, Ondo Guber Polls”, is speculative and incorrect. It gives a totally wrong impression. A lot of people will believe the headline without reading the story”.
