Election won’t be shifted again – NSA
Speaking in an interview with Associated France Press (AFP) yesterday, the NSA declared that the general election would not be postponed again.Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday shifted the general election by six weeks, citing security reasons.Dasuki had earlier in a speech at the Chatham House London called for delay in the elections because […]
Speaking in an interview with Associated France Press (AFP) yesterday, the NSA declared that the general election would not be postponed again.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday shifted the general election by six weeks, citing security reasons.
Dasuki had earlier in a speech at the Chatham House London called for delay in the elections because many prospective voters were yet to collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
“Those dates will not be shifted again,” Dasuki said when asked if the polls could be pushed further.
Presidential and Parliamentary elections due to take place on February14 were postponed to March 28, and elections for state governors and assemblies slated for February 28 have been moved to 11 April.
The postponement was however greeted with indignation within and outside the country.
Reacting on Sunday, Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen Muhammadu Buhari said the postponement of the general elections was a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral process.
He warned that his party would not tolerate any further interference with the electoral process, stressing that “The rescheduled elections of March 28th and April 11th, 2015 must be sacrosanct.”
However, the decision to postpone the presidential poll was welcomed by the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
President Goodluck Jonathan also urged Nigerians to see the shift in good faith, insisting that the May 29 handover date remained sacrosanct.
Meanwhile, Minister of Interior Abba Moro told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) yesterday that the fight against Boko Haram would be successful enough for the postponed elections to go ahead.
He said he had been advised by the military that enough troops would be available in six weeks’ time to secure the presidential ballot.
Mr Moro said a regional coalition formed recently to fight Boko Haram was gaining the upper hand.
“I think that we don’t have any reason not to be optimistic that they [the Nigerian military] are capable to bring the war to a level that will allow for a free and fair election,” he said.
“I think that they know what stakes are involved – it’s a national election, it’s a national concern and the international community is watching.”
Opposition officials accuse the military of forcing the electoral commission into the delay to help the sitting president’s campaign.