APC Calls Elections Postponement 'Setback' For Nigeria
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted negatively to the postponement of Nigeria's general elections over security challenges.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, announced the decision on February 7, yesterday. The presidential and National Assembly elections were rescheduled for March 28, and the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly polls for April 11.
In the APC's response statement, the party's national chairman, John E. K. Odigie-Oyegun, called the move "highly provocative".
See the party's message made public on its Facebook page yesterday:
"The All Progressives Congress, APC has just heard over the news media that The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to postpone the elections by six weeks on the strength of a letter by the security chiefs that they cannot provide security for the elections nationwide because of the commitment of its resources to fight insurgency in the north eastern part of the country.
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"This is clearly a major setback for Nigerian democracy, and our Party is meeting in emergency session to study its implications and will inform Nigerians of its decisions in the next few days.
"In the meantime though what has happened is highly provocative, I strongly appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence and any activity which will compound this unfortunate development. We must not fall into this obvious trap. Change we must. They can only delay it; No one can stop it.
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"I want to assure all Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress will not abandon its commitment to change and will sustain the struggle to establish a new Nigeria."
It should be recalled that the federal government had previously requested the INEC to shift the elections for 6 weeks over security thre.
The APC several times expressed its strong discontent with the idea of an elections postponement, alleging that the President is merely scared of losing. According to the opposition, "the only person who is not prepared for the election appears to be President Jonathan".
Source: Legit.ng
