Group laments over election postponement; says INEC is making Nigerians interpret reasons, blame Buhari administration

- The No Alternative to Buhari-Osinbajo (NABTO) group, has condemned INEC for postponing the February 16 elections

- The group said INEC had given Nigerians the opportunity to interpret the reasons for the postponement in different ways, and then put the blame on the Buhari administration

- NABTO expressed disappointment that the electoral commission, even in the face of its budget delay by NASS, had assured Nigerians that it was still feasible to hold the elections

- The group, however, urged the electorate to remain focused in the face of the disappointing circumstance and come out to cast their votes on February 23

A campaign group working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, 'No Alternative to Buhari-Osinbajo (NATBO 2019)', has condemned the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the February 16 elections.

The national coordinator of the group, Vincent Uba, said the action was capable of discouraging prospective voters, NAN reports.

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Legit.ng gathers that Uba said that INEC had given Nigerians the opportunity to interpret the reasons for the postponement in different ways, and then put the blame on the current administration.

“As cogent as INEC reasons for the postponement may be, we had expected the electoral body to be on top of its game, foreseeing the likely issues that could rear their ugly heads, leading to this avoidable embarrassing situation we have found ourselves.

“In an electoral contest that has been laden with unnecessary desperation by the opposition to unseat the current administration by every means available, it is expected that INEC should have envisaged possible sabotage to compromise the process leading to the free, fair and credible re-election of the party in power.

“Notwithstanding the fact that some people had called for the postponement of the election, including the opposition party, PDP, this postponement came at a time most unexpected – the eve of the election.

“It is very appalling and unfortunate that some people are now blaming the government for this postponement as if INEC is no longer independent; but there have been earlier convincing factors that would have been cogent reasons for the postponement,” Uba said in a statement.

The coordinator of the NATBO 2019 expressed disappointment that INEC, even in the face of its budget delay by the National Assembly, assured Nigerians that it was still feasible to hold the elections according to the already released time table.

He said: “We believe that it was at that point of the budget delay that INEC would have been bold and courageous enough to postpone the election.

“Another factor that would have lent credence to the postponement is the burning and other sabotage activities of INEC offices and facilities in some states.

“When these INEC offices burning were reported, it became obvious that some unscrupulous persons were on sabotage mission and that the election dates could not be feasible but INEC went ahead to maintain that it is going ahead with election on the original dates.

“That would have been a good reason to postpone.

“Despite the postponement, we still have confidence in INEC to remain neutral and resolute in its desire and commitment to conduct free and fair elections that would further portray the positive image of Nigeria as the Buhari-led administration work to ensure a better future for the citizenry.”

Uba urged the electorate to remain focused in the face of the disappointing circumstance and come out to cast their votes on February 23.

The group, while appealing for the understanding of foreign observers following the postponement, apologised for the inconveniences the postponement may have caused them.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the postponement of the general elections by INEC was condemned by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

The national president of the fellowship, Reverend Felix Omobude, in a statement released in Benin City, Edo state on Saturday, February 16, described the polls shift as a serious “national disgrace and embarrassment”.

Omobude said the electoral commission had no acceptable excuse to offer Nigerians for its failure to conduct the elections as earlier scheduled; as it had about four years to prepare for the exercise.

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