The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Saturday recent hike in the price of petrol would not affect the conduct of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated this while fielding questions from journalists during a pre-election news conference in Abuja.
He said the commission was already meeting with officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on the new development.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday raised the fuel pump price from N617 to N885 per litre in its retail outlets across the country.
He said: “Well, first of all, I am aware that the commission, in the last couple of days, met with the officials of the NURTW to discuss this matter, and I’m sure the resolution was reached.
“Of course, when you are planning for an election, you have what is called contingency, because you don’t know what can happen. There could be changes and all of that.
“So, we don’t expect transporters to operate at a loss. If oil has gone up, for instance, and they now want some increment, this could be discussed.
“Like I said, I wasn’t part of the meeting, but the meeting was held, and I’m sure some agreement was reached.
“We have to conduct that election. So, I don’t think that will cause some problems.”
On INEC’s preparations for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) participation in the exercise, Oyekanmi said the commission would continue to do its best for the PWDs to exercise their franchise.
“Normally, our Presiding Officers are trained that when they see anybody on a wheelchair or anyone regarded as PWD, the person comes straight to the front of the queue, and Nigerians cooperate with us on that.
“For instance, the elderly people, people on wheelchairs, people with special needs, and physically pregnant people, not people who put something in their tummy, we give them that respect,” he added.
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