INEC, in the early hours of Saturday, February 16, 2019, cited logistics as its reason for postponing the elections.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC, in the early hours of Saturday, February 16, 2019, cited logistics as its reason for postponing the elections.
According to a statement sent to Pulse, the PDP presidential candidate said President Buhari should be blamed.
Atiku said the postponement is part of the Federal Government’s plan to disenfranchise Nigerians.
He also called on his supporters to be patient, peaceful and law-abiding as they go about their business.
Read the full statement below:
As you know, the Independent National
Electoral Commission has announced a postponement of the elections until
23 February and 9 March respectively.
The Buhari administration has had more than enough
time and money to prepare for these elections and the Nigerian people
were poised and ready to perform their civic responsibility by voting in
the elections earlier scheduled for Saturday, 16 February, 2019.
This postponement is obviously a case of the
hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. By instigating this postponement,
the Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian
electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled
date. Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater
numbers on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively.
Knowing that the Nigerian people are
determined to reject them, they are desperate and will do anything in
their power to avoid their rejection by the Nigerian people.
Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping
for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further
anti-democratic acts.
As such, I call on all Nigerians to be
patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for
four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them
our verdict via our votes.
Maintain the peace and be law abiding. Do not
react to this provocation with anger, violence or any action that might
be exploited by those who do not want this election to hold. Remain
calm. We will overcome this. You can postpone an election, but you
cannot postpone destiny.
Please come out to vote on Saturday, 23
February and Saturday, 9 March respectively. Frustrate those who do not
want this election to hold by coming out in very large numbers. That is
the best antidote to their plans.
May God bless you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
APC condemns postponement
The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council has also condemned the postponement of the elections.
The presidential and national assembly elections will now hold on February 23, 2019 instead of February 16, 2019.
Governorship elections earlier slated for March 2, 2019 will now hold on March 9, 2019.