Nick Dazang, spokesman for the commission, said the election would now hold on a new date no less thanย two weeks from Saturday.
โWe have now decided to shift the election forward for another two weeks,โ Mr. Dazang said.
โWe would announce a new date within the next 24 hours.โ
The postponement came a day after the police and State Security Service announced their intentionย to pull out of the exercise, citing security concerns.
After a series of consultation andย initial show of defiance, the Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC finally buckled.
Godwin Obaseki, the APC candidate, is slugging it out with Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP in the race to replace incumbent Adams Oshiomhole whose two-term tenure expires this November.
The electoral body had initially brushed aside concerns raised by the police and the SSS, affirming its earlier schedule.
The commission said it would not be โteleguidedโ, and argued that suspending the polls would be costly after reaching at least 97 per cent readiness lewas.
It was learnt that INEC was pressured to change its decision.
โThe SSS and the police clearly said they can guarantee the security of INECโs personnel and materials,โ the source said.
