Former member of the House of Representatives Alhaji Ahmed Wadada has said that the reasons tendered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections were not convincing.
Wadada, who is the chairman, Nasarawa State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Directorate, made the assertion in an interview Sunday in Keffi.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had at the meeting with stakeholders Saturday evening attributed the one-week shift in the elections to logistic challenges and sabotage of the commission’s efforts.
But the former lawmaker dismissed the chairman’s assertion saying that he had repeatedly promised Nigerians that there would be no postponement of elections.
“INEC, as an election management body empowered by the law has been on ground for years and has four-year intervals to prepare and conduct elections. I think it is most unacceptable for us to be taken off-guard barely 24 hours to the elections.
“The INEC Chairman did not attribute reasons for the postponement of election to security challenge, political intervention or financial hiccups.
“For me, I am not convinced by any of the reasons tendered by the INEC boss. The elections shift is most unfortunate, most sad and really discouraging.
“But as stakeholders, we will do everything possible to contend with the disappointment and sad development.
“And as Nigerians who are not only committed to democracy but also committed to the growth and development of democratic values, we have no choice than to accept the postponement and remain focussed and united to achieve what we want,” Wadada said
The former Chairman, House Committee on Information and National Orientation urged INEC to “wake up to its responsibilities and discharge its mandate diligently”.
He also called on supporters of the party to remain focussed and not to be discouraged by the postponement.
“As far as I am concerned, the postponement will not affect, in any way, the chances of APC to win elections in Nasarawa State and Presidential elections by God’s grace,’’ Wadada said. (NAN)
