Nigeria journalists worried of INEC’s committment to credible elections

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Saturday expressed worries over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) commitment to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

“The Nigeria Union of Journalists is concerned about the ability of INEC to conduct credible elections in the country in view of the last minute hasty postponement of the process, citing logistics problems and operational hiccups,” NUJ national secretary Shuaibu Usman Leman said in a statement.

INEC postponed the general elections a few hours to the commencement. The elections scheduled to commence Saturday, February 16 with the presidential and National Assembly elections, will be held February 23. Governorship and state houses of assembly elections will take place on March 9.

The postponement of the election has drawn different reactions from the ruling party, opposition parties and some sections of the Nigerian public expressing disappointments.

Although INEC has stated its reason for postponing the election, the NUJ insists on a better explanation from the electoral body.

NUJ secretary argued that INEC excuses for postponing the elections were unacceptable because it had consistently assured the Nigerian public and members of the international community of its readiness to conduct the polls.

According to Leman, “It is instructive to note that INEC had before now, consistently assured Nigerians and the International community of its preparedness to give Nigerians free and fair elections.”

“It is, therefore, pertinent to the request for more explanations as to why such a grossly unconventional decision was taken.”

She called on all Nigeria journalists to “maintain calm and remain resolute in the discharge of their assignments especially as they relate to election matters.”