By Umaru Abdulai ,
Minna
Stakeholders have reacted to the postponement of the Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representative election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the developments as not too pleasant for Nigeria’s image.
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State described the postponement as an embarrassment. The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) on its part said, ‘‘The whole issue is sad’’, while the Campaign for Democracy (CD) called for investigations into the whole matter.
State PDP chairman, Alhaji Tanko Beji, stated, “The whole saga is sad and regrettable. This is an unacceptable decision by the INEC which came up only few hours ago telling Nigerians and the whole world that they were ready and in the next minute saying the elections have been postponed.
“We as a party had prepared for this election and were set to win this election. The action of INEC has not only ridiculed Nigeria in the eyes of the International Community but has called to question the seriousness and integrity of the chairman and other members of the commission”.
Beji who recalled that INEC had assured Nigerians that they were good to go.
He therefore called for the resignation of the commission’s chairman, Alhaji Mahmood Yakubu, and other members because ‘Nigerians no longer have confidence in them’.
Also, the Secretary of the ruling APC in Niger State, Alhaji Aminu Liman, described the postponement as not only sad but has also brought to question the much acclaimed integrity of the chairman and members of the electoral Commission.
Alhaji Abdullahi Jabi, the State Coordinator of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) expressed regrets over the electoral umpire’s decision, adding however that, “Now that the election has been postponed INEC should put its house in order to forestall a future occurrence”.
The CD state chairman who however observed, “This is not the time to apportion blame but a time we should all join hands with INEC to know what went wrong and assist in righting the wrongs to ensure it conducts a hitch-free election as from next week Saturday”.
Also, Niger state Government stated: “The postponement of the elections is unfortunate but going by the INEC Chairman’s statement the decision to shift the election was necessary for the commission to successfully deliver its mandate of conducting a credible, free and fair election and for the consolidation of our democracy”.
The statement signed by, Mr. Jide Orintunsin, Media Coordinator to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said, “In the light of this, I want to appeal for the understanding of our people. I strongly believe that the electoral body meant well for Nigeria”.