The outcome of tomorrow’s, Saturday’s presidential election will be announced as soon as practicable, according to the Independent National Election Commission, or INEC.
At a Friday press conference in Abuja, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, provided the assurance.
Recall that the Commission waited more than two days to announce the 2019 presidential election winner.
Yakubu asserted that the Commission will expedite the process of announcing the outcome of this year’s presidential election.
“I just want to emphasize that we’ll make sure that it (the result declaration) is done quickly,” he said.
“I can’t put a finger on the number of days or number of hours it will take, but it will be done speedily.
“We are aware of the anxiety and the need for us to conclude the process quickly. It will be concluded quickly.”
Yakubu also promised that the procedure won’t be hindered by the recent cash shortage brought on by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent naira swap policy (CBN).
“Not all of our operations are funded by cash,” he said.
“In fact, the bulk of our procurement for both goods and services is done electronically.
“But we need a small amount of money to pay for the unbanked who render critical services, particularly at the local level.
“We anticipated this challenge and interacted with the Central Bank; they promised us that the little amount we need to pay for services in cash, they will make the funds available to us and they have done so.
“And these funds have already been accessed by our state offices for elections, which is why the movement of personnel and materials in the last couple of days has gone on unhindered.
“So, I must give credit for our relationship with the Central Bank in that regard.
Yakubu promised that “the process won’t incur any encumbrance as a result.”