The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has debunked news making the rounds on WhatsApp that it had shifted voting in the Presidential/National Assembly elections in some local government areas in 16 states of the federation to Sunday, February 26, 2023.
The WhatsApp statement went viral despite earlier explanation by the chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, that some polling units in Edo, Bayelsa, Kebbi and parts of Lagos would have the process shifted due to security concerns or late or non-arrival of voting materials.
The WhatsApp statement listed the affected states as Lagos (Surulere, Ikate, Okota, Eti-Osa, Kosofe and Oshodi), FCT, Ebonyi, Rivers, Imo, Anambra, Kano, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Sokoto, Taraba, Abia, and Ekiti respectively.
“Voting in the affected areas will resume by 8 am till 12 pm on the 26th February 2023,” the statement said.
“Therefore, it advised that staff and stakeholders continue to adhere to all Government/INEC directives and security advisories concerning this election.
“We would continue to monitor the situation and provide timely situation reports across the country.”
But while Festus Okoye, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, told TheCable online newspaper that the statement was “fake”, the commission’s spokesman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, thrashed it on his Twitter handle, declaring that:
“INEC did not extend the voting period in 16 States. The story below is fake and should be disregarded.
“An extension of time was granted to voters in areas where PUs did not open at 8.30 am. Voters on the queue before 2.30 pm are then allowed beyond the 2.30 pm stoppage time.”
