Strong indications emerged yesterday on the possibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifting next week’s presidential and National Assembly elections after a stakeholders meeting with the leadership of the political parties and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at its headquarters in Abuja today.

The press statement from the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Robert Idowu, implied that the Commission may announce a shift in the election date to enable more voters collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

The release further added that the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, would today meet with the chairmen and secretaries of all the 28 registered political parties to look into the Commission’s level of preparedness and take a final decision on whether the election will go ahead on next Saturday as scheduled.

Idowu further noted that the INEC chairman will address a press conference to inform the nation about the final position of the Commission regarding the date for the election. He said in the statement:

“On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, was invited to brief the National Council of States (NCS) on the preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections.

“He made a presentation titled ‘Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report.’ The National Security Adviser (NSA) and Armed Services Chiefs also briefed the Council on the current security situation.

“As a follow-up to that meeting, the Commission has scheduled a consultative meeting with chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties, as well as a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

“Thereafter, the Com­mission will address a press conference to brief the nation on its decision with re­gards to whether or not the general elections will hold as currently scheduled.”

•Sourced from Saturday Sun. Photo shows Jega.