Chairman, House of Representatives’ committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Aisha Dukku says INEC was noncommittal in the request by the lawmakers for the electoral body to extend voter registration by 60 days.
This was contrary to the committee’s position at the plenary on Wednesday, when it said the commission has agreed to extend the timeline for the exercise.
“He (INEC chairman) has already agreed to extend but for the court injunction he is to appear on the 29th of June.
“That notwithstanding, he said it has been guaranteed that it has to be extended, and not just extending, but also it would additionally be done during weekends. He has agreed to that and he is going to make a statement very soon to that effect,” Dukku had briefed her colleagues during the plenary.
However, in an apparent U-turn later, she said the commission did not promise to extend the deadline by 60 days.
Speaking with journalists, she said, “Part of what INEC told the house through the committee on electoral matters is that they are going to look at our request. However, whatever happens, they cannot be able to open the registration for the next 60 days because of the activities lined up before the general election.”
