By Awaal Gata
Following the shift in the dates of this year’s general elections, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who traveled to their home states for fear of post election violence have returned, ruing the postponement.
The polls were earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28, but citing security reasons, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on February 7, shifted the dates to March 28 and 11 respectively.
However, prior to the postponement, checks reveal mass movement of people out of the FCT and other parts of the country to their home towns, due to heightened fears over possible mayhem during or after the elections.
As at then, many parents had withdrawn their children from schools, and as the previous dates slated for the elections draw nearer, more were ready to hit the road heading to their respective states of origin.
Speaking to our correspondent, a cross section of Abuja residents in separate interviews reacted differently to the matter, with many saying it has helped to douse the tension in the air while others believe it only worsened the situation.
Some residents, who greeted the shift with excitement, applauded the INEC for taken what they described as a brilliant step, aimed at ensuring that everyone is safe and ready for the elections.
But, for those, who expressed gloom over the development, they are not comfortable with the rationale behind the postponement, despite several calls in some quarters that INEC should go on with the exercise as earlier planned.
They argued that it appears that INEC has allowed itself to be a willing tools in the hands of the government of the day, which seemed not too ready for the elections, hence the pressure on the electoral umpire to shift the polls.
A resident in Kubwa, Salihu Musa, says “looking at this election postponement, “there is no need for us to protest or utter any bad comment, though the government is being unfair with the situation at hand.
“We can take the postponement as a declaration of state of emergency, so let us keep calm and vote in March and April, if there will not be more unfolding events.”
Similarly, a civil servant, Bako Mathew, points out that “Politicians may have problem with the postponement, but as civil servants, and anything the government say is what we will follow.
“All this while we knew that this will happen (postponement of elections), as before the reason put forward was low distribution of PVCs now it is insecurity.
“Though it is clear that the presidency manipulating things, but we will still be patience to wait for whether they would shift it again, or allow us to vote for our choice.”
“Isn’t it obvious? Today is PVCs, tomorrow another election palaver, the questions we need to ask are: “how can the INEC postpone the elections, why the military strategy against insurgents did was delayed until now, since they knew elections will be held on February 14,” another resident in Wuse 2, Yashi Vera, asked.
For one resident, who simply identified herself as Sarah, what INEC did was the best, considering the hitches with the distribution of the PVCs, in addition to the security issues raised by the security agencies.
“With the postponement, those who have been complaining about PVCs should go and get theirs, even as the security agents should play their part too, there should not be any excuses again.”
“This will to an extent, ensure that no group or individual should complain after expiration of the extended time, as it is enough time for everyone to be ready for the exercise,” she said.