21st February, 2019
The Scandinavia chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make the Feb.23, Presidential and National Assembly elections feasible.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, the National Chairman of the APC Scandinavia, Mr Ayoola Lawal, said the postponement of the elections created mixed feelings and a lot of inconveniences for Nigerians.
“Nigerians both home and in the diaspora and the international community at large already expressed their mixed views on the postponement of the elections last Saturday.
“It will be hard to estimate the financial, psychological and international impacts of the postponement on Nigerians and the international community, but we must get it right.
“We call on the INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure all necessary actions are taken to make the Feb. 23, a feasible date.
“This must be done to properly secure all the electoral materials and equipment that are already transported or in transit to the appropriate locations.
“INEC should do the needful by ensuring that all pre, main and post activities needed for the elections are thoroughly implemented accordingly, within the allotted time frame,” Lawal said.
Lawal said that since the INEC boss claimed that the commission acted in the best interests of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari must investigate the postponement.
“The atmosphere is charged and emotions running high and many stakeholders are throwing counter accusations of sabotage.
“We hope that President Buhari will order further investigations into the matter after the elections.
“Necessary consequences should follow to prevent a future recurrence because it is becoming our trend for the past three election seasons.
“INEC must ensure it put in place robust, effective and efficient contingency plans against any unexpected circumstance(s).
“We suppose that all stakeholders including the meteorologists should also be considered in proper planning and decision making of Saturday and any future elections,” he added.
The APC chieftain said that as INEC deploys electoral equipment, materials and its own staff, the safety and welfare of all corps members to serve as ad hoc staff for the elections should not be compromised.
Lawal said that the president’s directive to security agencies to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers should be welcomed and supported by all Nigerians.
He added that the directive was in order if the nation was really ready for free and fair elections.
“We Nigerians all are aware of various nefarious activities that come with electioneering in Nigeria.
“We implore all Nigerians to go out en masse to vote President Mohammad Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo in order to consolidate the great works of rebuilding Nigeria that the team already started.
“We cannot afford to move back to the era of corrupt and criminal minded looters,” he added.