EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to remain committed and not allow the election postponement to deter them from exercising their rights on Feb. 23.
Tinubu made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman.
Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Feb. 16 were shifted till Feb. 23 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, hours to the commencement of the polls.
Governorship, state houses of assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls, earlier fixed for March 2 were also moved to March 9 by INEC due to some challenges.
According to Tinubu, there were reports of eager voters rising early to leave their homes to cast their ballots on Saturday only to be told upon arriving at their appointed polling stations that the election had been postponed.
He said that this should not have happened for it could well discourage people from coming out when the election takes place.
Tinubu, however, urged people who came out and other Nigerians who intended to cast their votes to maintain their commitment and prepare to do so on Feb. 23.
“Do not allow this delay to deter you from the expression of your democratic rights.
“What you had set your mind to do on February 16, keep your mind and heart on for February 23, ” he said.
Tinubu expressed dissatisfaction over the late hour postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections by INEC.
” As the National Leader of the APC and simply as a Nigerian, I must express my profound concern and dissatisfaction with the unexpected, late hour postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections by INEC.
“While we appreciate the enormity of the logistical challenge that elections in a vast nation like ours poses to INEC, we are still pained that the Commission could not meet this challenge within the time allotted.
“We are also perplexed that INEC literally waited so late in the day to make known the obstacles preventing it from keeping faith to the election schedule.
” INEC could have and should have given the nation more ample and earlier warning. This could have perhaps lessened the pervasive disappointment that we all now feel. It also would have helped people better order their steps today, ” he said.
The APC National Leader urged political parties and Nigerians to support and encourage INEC to conduct a smooth election on February 23.