INEC chairman expresses readiness for governorship, state assemblies elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is ready to conduct governorship, state assemblies elections scheduled for March 9.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, revealed this at the commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday.

He said: “As you are aware in seven states, the governorship elections are staggered and conducted off season. We have since concluded these elections.

“There will be governorship election in 29 states and in all the states of the federation there will be state assembly elections and in the Federal Capital Territory where the area council election coincides with the general elections.

“So, we thought that since the RECs were here with the State Collation Officers for the Presidential election, it is important for us to meet and review the experiences of the last elections with a view to strengthening our processes towards a successful conduct of the state elections on Saturday March 9.

“We have gone very far with the arrangements for the elections, election will hold on March 9, with the election of governor for states as well as members of the state assemblies.

“To ensure the purpose of this meeting is in keeping with the tradition of the commission, once you conduct a national election, you take stock and review, so that processes and procedures are strengthened learning from the experience of previous elections before going into state elections.”