INEC dissipate polls shift

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State has refuted claims that it is planning to disenfranchise would-be voters during the governorship and state House of Assembly polls on Saturday.

In a statement, the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Mrs. Ijeoma Okey-Igbokwe, described as unfounded allegations that the commission would postpone elections by one day.

She said, “The attention of INEC has been drawn to rumours making the rounds that the commission in the state intends to delay the governorship and state House of Assembly elections slated for Saturday, April 11, 2015 till Sunday, April 12, 2015.

“Also, the commission has learnt of rumours that teachers of the state schools will be used to replace the National Youth Service Corps members in the ongoing elections, to disenfranchise non-indigenes.

“We wish to state here clearly that the rumours are callous, unfounded, and malicious. The commission in the state wants to assure Lagosians that everything is set for the smooth takeoff of the abovementioned elections and that there is no intention by the commission to delay the electoral process.”

The commission warned “the peddlers of these rumours” to desist from acts that were capable of disrupting the peace of the state.

Okey-Igbokwe added that Lagosians were advised to come out in their numbers to elect leaders of their choice.