Election results will be declared quickly – INEC

The Independent National Election Commission, INEC, has declared that the election results of tomorrow’s presidential election, scheduled for Saturday, will be declared as soon as possible.

Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, gave the assurance at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.

Remember that the Commission took over two days to declare the winner of the 2019 presidential election.
Nonetheless, Yakubu said that the Commission will expedite the announcement of this year’s presidential election results.

“I just want to say that we will make sure that it (the result declaration) is done as soon as possible,” he added.

“I can’t say how many days or hours it will take, but it will be done quickly.

“We are aware of the anxiety and the need for us to finish the process as soon as possible. That will be completed soon.”

Yakubu further stated that the process will not be hampered by the recent cash crisis caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent naira swap policy (CBN).

“Not all of our operations are paid for in cash,” he explained.

In reality, we do most of our procurement for both products and services electronically.

“Yet we need a little amount of money to pay for the unbanked who render critical services, particularly at the local level.

“We anticipated this challenge and interacted with the Central Bank; they assured us that the little amount we need to pay for services in cash, they will make the funds available to us and they have done so.

“And these money have already been accessible by our state offices for elections, which is why the transfer of persons and supplies in the last few of days has gone on unhindered.

“In that sense, I must give credit to our relationship with the Central Bank.

“The process won’t be hampered as a result,” Yakubu assured.