The presidential and national assembly elections will now hold on February 23, 2019 instead of February 16, 2019.

Governorship elections earlier slated for March 2, 2019 will now hold on March 9, 2019.

INEC says it arrived at the decision after reviewing its logistics for the exercise.

In a statement sent to Pulse, INEC said “following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible”.

The statement added that “consequently, the commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23rd February 2019. Furthermore, the Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections is rescheduled to Saturday, 9th March 2019.

“This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections.”

Nigeria’s electoral commission says the decision to postpone the vote was a difficult one to take.

“This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy.

“The Commission will meet key stakeholders to update them on this development at 2pm on Saturday, 16th February, 2019 at the Abuja International Conference Center”, the statement signed by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, read.

Suggestions that the election will be postponed emerged a little before midnight of Friday, February 15, 2019 when it became clear that ballot materials were yet to arrive a couple of States, including Niger and Ekiti.

PDP rejects election postponement

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the rescheduling of the elections.

PDP Chairman Uche Secondus says the postponement is a ploy by President Buhari and the governing APC to cling on to power.

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The incident occurred on Friday at the Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA) office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC had earlier announced Friday as the deadline for the collection of PVCs. However, collection has subsequently been extended till Monday, February 11.

The order to teargas the residents was given by one officer, identified as Ifeanyi Ohuruzu.

Children, pregnant women, physically-challenged persons, among others were affected by the smoke from the teargas canisters.

Two people collapsed and were rushed to the hospital, while others sustained injuries.

A pregnant woman was one of those who developed a choking fit, while others were rushed away from the area.

Mrs Ademuwagun Olubunkola, who suffres from asthma, vomited blood during the teargas incident, spoke to SaharaReporters, saying: “What they did today was very bad, and thank God I didn’t die. In fact, I am not in the mood to talk right now. Speak with the man that saved me.”

Mr. Orisunmibare Babatola, the man who took care of some of those who sustained injuries, said there wasn’t any violence to have warranted the policemen firing teargas canisters.

His words: “A mobile policeman took a drastic decision and all of a sudden, after the OP MESA left, my son was affected. They quickly rushed two babies to the hospital. Why did INEC ask us to come when they know our PVCs aren’t ready?”

When he was challenged by the residents on why he gave the order, Ohuruzu said: “There must be casualties in places like this.”

The exercise continued after the incident; still, many residents are yet to get their PVCs.

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She suffered a rebellion of 118 of her MPs – with the group including a raft of former ministers. Tom Pursglove and Eddie Hughes quit as ministerial aides tonight to join the rebels.

It was the biggest Tory rebellion for decades – worse than anything faced by David Cameron, John Major or Margaret Thatcher. 

The revolt includes more than a third of her entire 317-strong party and was led by ringleaders Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg.

A raft of Brexit supporting former ministers including David Davis, Dominic Raab, Sir Michael Fallon and Esther McVey were among the rebels.

Mrs May was also deserted by Remain rebels – including Jo Johnson, Sam Gyimah and Philip Lee who all quit the Government to vote No tonight. 

Overall there are 17 former Tory Cabinet ministers on the list – including Iain Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson, Andrew Mitchell and Priti Patel.  

All ten of the DUP MPs who are supposed to be propping up the Tories in power also deserted the Government. 

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