The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said that the dates for the conduct of the 2019 general election remain unchanged despite the delay in the passage of the N189.2 INEC budget proposal before the National Assembly.
The INEC boss gave the assurance after meeting Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, inside Aso Rock on Friday.
Yakubu said that since INEC already set the dates, the electoral body will not consider any postponement.
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He said, “I have said this over and over again, there are no conditions under which elections should be postponed, under section 26 of the Electoral Act. The date is formed and fixed, February 16, 2019.
“We issued the timetable way in advance. For the very first time in the history of our nation, citizens of Nigeria know when elections will take place one year in advance. It has never happened before.”
The INEC Chairman also lauded the budgetary process for the proposed budget before the National Assembly, saying Nigerians now know how much the commission would spend on the 2019 general election.
He noted, “That budget has never been defended before the National Assembly, and citizens know line by line how much the commission proposed, what the money is going to be spent on, I think I am very happy with this process.”
However, he disclosed that the INEC proposed budget made no provisions for logistics for international observers during the 2019 general election.
He said, “There is no such thing. There is no line in the budget for international observers. What we have provided for are the kits, you know the jackets, caps, publication, that we give to international observers, the stickers that are fixed on their cars to be identified on Election Day.
“This is the standard practice. Each country that organises elections provides these facilities for those who monitor elections.
“But their accommodation, transportation will be borne by various election monitoring groups and not by the Nigerian government.”