Just in: Why INEC was not ready for polls - Balarabe Musa reveals, blames FG, NASS

- Alhaji Balarabe Musa, a former governor of Kaduna state, has voiced his views on the recent postponement of the general elections by INEC

- Musa said that INEC was not ready for the polls due to the alleged inadequate funds made available to it by the National Assembly

- The former governor also claimed that Nigerians are not even sure if the federal government actually released the said funds to INEC

The former Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, on Saturday, February 16, expressed disappointment over the postponement of the general elections, but declared that INEC was never prepared for the exercise in the first place.

INEC had announced the postponement, few hours to the kickoff of the presidential and National Assembly polls. The chairman of the electoral commission, Mahmood Yakubu, while announcing the postponement in Abuja, attributed the step to “overwhelming logistics and operational challenges”.

The commission fixed Saturday, February 23 and Saturday, March 9, as new dates for the presidential and National Assembly elections and , the governorship and state Assembly polls respectively.

But Musa, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kaduna on Saturday said he was disappointed, but not surprised, at the development.

The former governor said: “I am not surprised because INEC was never ready for the exercise, given the level of its preparations. INEC had serious funding challenges; what was appropriated to the commission by the National Assembly was not adequate and everyone knew it.

“We are not even sure if the approved amount was released to the electoral body by the Federal Government. The logistics and operational challenges are glaring. There are also serious security challenges that may affect the agency in the course of the elections.

“The security services are facing the same funding crises and most of them are living in fear.“You can also see the serious challenges being faced by the Judiciary, who are supposed to play a major role in the election process,” Musa said.

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“So, I must say that I am disappointed, but, again, as I said, I am not surprised. I hope that all the stakeholders will take the necessary measures to help INEC address the issues before Feb, 23, the new date for the Presidential polls, because the President can only handover power to an elected person.

Furthermore, Musa called on all Nigerians and stakeholders to remain calm, while waiting for the new dates for the polls.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the recent postponement of the much-awaited general elections that were expected to kick-off on Saturday, February 16, has triggered series of mixed reactions and comments from stakeholders, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's spokesman, Laolu Akande and Nigerians generally, especially on social media.

Nigerians on social media have aired their views on the shifting of the general elections by the INEC on Saturday, February 16.

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Source: Legit.ng

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