*Says Jega can’t halt citizens’ democratic wish

DAMATURU — Yobe State Government said, yesterday, that it would go ahead with its local government election slated for the end of this month despite the objection raised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, had said, Monday, that it would not support the conduct of the local government polls by the Yobe State Government because of security concerns.

Jega even went further to warn that the commission would not conduct any election in any North-East state still under emergency rule in 2015, a declaration that has drawn the ire of the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

But the Yobe State Government said in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Abdullahi Bego that it would proceed with the local elections notwithstanding the INEC boss’ objection.

Bego said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Yobe local government election will go ahead as scheduled. The people at the grassroots level have yearned for this for long and the state government is determined to give the people the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and be voted for.”