The election postponement is becoming part of Nigeria democracy as it has been witnessed in three consecutive general elections although with separate reasons, Nigerians have taken to social media to remind us of what the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari said when 2015 was postponed for six weeks.
The then Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega shifted the polls for six weeks after the security agencies said they can’t guarantee the security of the elections due the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North East.
When asked for his reaction, Buhari who was then the candidate of the All Progressives Congress said, “It took INEC one month to work out…I see no reason why we should postpone it.”
“There are 14 local governments where there is (security) problem; 10 in Borno, two in Your, two in Adamawa. And there and 774 local governments in Nigeria. Should we postpone the election because of 14 local governments?”
Buhari suggested that even with Boko Haram onslaught, the electoral umpire ought to go ahead.
“Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria were fighting wars and they conducted elections, what is Boko Haram?” he said, dismissing the reporter.
Buhari, however, asked his supporters to take advantage of the postponement to further mobilise support among Nigerians.
Buhari also accused PDP of engineering the postponement to avoid a defeat; but appealed for calm among his supporters.
“I wish to appeal for utmost restraint and calm by all Nigerians, especially the teeming supporters of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“It is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it has had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence of INEC has been gravely compromised,” he said.
Credits: Premium Times