Barring last minute changes, the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will meet with security chiefs this week.The decision to hold the meeting has heightened fears that the election may not hold as scheduled.
The election earlier slated for September 10 was postponed to September 28 due to security concerns.
But the latest fear, apart from the security situation, sources said, has to do with clash of date with the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
No specific date has been fixed for the meeting expected to take place at the Presidential Villa but Daily Sun gathered that Tuesday has been tentatively agreed upon.
The meeting according to a highly placed source has only one agenda which is to consider issues surrounding the Edo governorship election.
IThe challenge of security chiefs, it was learnt at the weekend is not particularly about conducting the election but fears of post election crisis which will require more security forces to be stationed in Edo.
Sources in Abuja hinted that in view of the security situation around the country, it will be expedient to deploy security officers around the state at least one week before the Independence day celebrations.
This week’s meeting, it was gathered will have to strike a balance between the security concerns, INEC credibility in the eye of the opposition as well as logistics already committed to the aborted election.
When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, neither confirmed the meeting nor denied it.
“The security chiefs are already aware of the new date. They have been informed. You may want to check with them to confirm. The number of candidates writing the papers is small and consultations are going on. As far as INEC is concerned, we are ready ” he said in response to Daily Sun.
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