The Yobe state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has postponed indefinitely the Local Government Election earlier scheduled for June this year.
Announcing the postponement on Thursday in Damaturu after a stakeholders meeting with members of political parties and security agents in the state, the Chairman of the commission, Jauro Abdu attributed the postponement to the insecurity problem bedevilling the state and by extension the northern part of the country as a whole.
‘‘The postponement of the election is because of the degenerating security situation in the state and I want to state clearly that the election will be rescheduled at a later date when the security situation improves’’.
He further disclosed that the present curfew imposed as a result of the deteriorating security situation does not provide enabling environment for the conduct of the election across the state.
The state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, had seven days ago reviewed a dusk to dawn curfew in the state after a meeting with the various security agencies in the state.
The review was sequel to recent killings in Geidam and Babbangida towns of Geidam and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas of the state respectively.
The Yobe state executive council had seven days ago also approved the sum of N192.5 million for the SIEC for the conduct of the LG Polls billed for June 2013
The approval was meant to cater for the cost of printing ballot papers and other electoral materials ahead of the election.