INEC has certainly violated the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).

The Electoral Act specifically outlines three reasons that would warrant the postponement of elections in Nigeria, thus:

Under 26(1), it is provided thus:

"Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election, and there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies, the commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area, or areas concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election provided that such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable."

What the Electoral Act demands of INEC is that the reasons for the postponement must be “cogent and verifiable”. Can it be said that its self-made logistics problems just in a few states amount to such “cogent” and “verifiable” reason?

I think INEC should come clean with this postponement.