The All Progressives Congress on Saturday described the decision by INEC
to shift the 2015 elections by six weeks as a major setback for democracy.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, said INEC’s decision
taken on the strength of a letter written by security chiefs that they cannot
provide security for the elections nationwide, because of the commitment of
resources to fighting insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country, is
provocative.
He said, “This is clearly a major setback for Nigerian democracy, and
our party is meeting in an emergency session to study its implications. We will
inform Nigerians of its decisions in the next few days.
“In the meantime what has happened is highly provocative, I strongly
appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence and any
activity which will compound this unfortunate development. We must not fall
into this obvious trap. Change we must. They can only delay it; No one can stop
it.
“I want to assure all Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress will
not abandon its commitment to change and will sustain the struggle to establish
a new Nigeria.”
The Peoples Democratic Party however said the party welcomed INEC’s
decision.
The party’s Lagos Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, said that INEC took
the best decision.
He said, “INEC mentioned the area of security and the fact that people
have not received their PVCs as expected. These are two strong points upon
which anybody would consider if given the powers to postpone the elections.”
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation also
said it was satisfied with INEC’s decision.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Femi Fani-Kayode,
said the INEC ‘’must be commended for showing the courage to shift the
elections after acknowledging the fact that its state of preparedness was not
100 per cent.’’
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