Some residents of Anambra have
expressed sadness over the postponement of the general elections by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as
`unfortunate.
Reacting to the development on Saturday in Awka, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra described the postponement of the elections as `a very sad development for Nigerians.
Nwobu said that the postponement on early
hours of the election day had shown Nigeria as a `disorganized country
before comity of nations.
INECs action is capable of blowing the polity
but Nigeria has matured by unfolding political events, as such, will be
calm to achieve their desired goal of enthroning good leadership.
This has never been done in the
annals of our country that on the morning of election, the elections
will be postponed, it is lack of preparedness and planning, he said.
It is a clear indication of how Nigeria has
been governed in the last four years and a proof of lack of plan and
vision by the ruling government.
If they like let the election be postponed ten times, this government must be voted out, he said.
Nwobu urged PDP faithful to remain calm and
abide by the rule of law and always stand with the partys decisions at
all time for growth and development of the entire nation.
Also Mr Godwin Ezeemo, a PDP stalwart in
Anambra described the postponement as `a very big embarrassment to
Nigeria, a big shame from an institution to a nation.
He said that INEC had created room for suspicion on its ability to conduct credible elections.
It really gives room for worry as our trust in its performance has been dashed, Ezeemo said.
Prof. Stella Okunna , Dean Faculty of
Management/Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said that the
postponement was `a shocker of the year and a huge embarrassment to a
nation like Nigeria.
Okunna said that the image of the country had been battered and urged INEC to work hard to restore its dignity and credibility.
She said that Nigerians would be saddened
about the development and appealed to the electoral body to ensure that
the challenges that led to the postponement would be addressed before
the new date.
Chief Chris Eluemuno, former state president
of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said that the postponement was uncalled for if INEC
was truly ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
He said that all the security chiefs assured
that they were ready to give their services to ensure peaceful elections
and wondered why INEC that had the timetable could postpone elections
for mere logistics challenges.
The reason for the postponement is not cogent
enough to give Nigerians. It is a huge disgrace in the comity of
nations, Elemuno said.
Dr Kay Anyachor, the State Secretary of Social
Democratic Party (SDP), described the postponement as `very painful
adding that the action had taken the trust of the electorate out of the
commission.
NAN reports that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC
Chairman, postponed the general elections, with the Presidential and
National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Feb. 16 moved to Feb
23.
The governorship/State House of Assembly are also shifted from March 2, to March 9.
Yakubu said in a nationwide broadcast attributed the postponement to lack of adequate logistics and some other challenges.
He said that the postponement would give the commission room to address the identified challenges to give credible elections.