- A group has reacted to the postponement of the February 16 presidential and National Assembly election by INEC
- The group, Gender and Election Watch, urged the the electoral umpire to re-double efforts at protecting the integrity of the electoral process
- GEW also urged INEC to engage relevant stakeholders in order to maintain trust ahead of the new schedule
The Gender and Election Watch (GEW), an initiative of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to re-double efforts at protecting the integrity of the electoral process by upholding its regulations and relevant laws.
Reacting to the postponement of the shift in the general election dates, the chief executive Officer of NWTF, Mufuliat Fijabi, in a statement, urged INEC to be more proactive and perfect its systems, NAN reports
Legit.ng had earlier reported that INEC had shifted the elections a few hours to the opening of polling units.
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The commission postponed the presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for February 16 to February 23, and the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from March 2 to March 9.
The commission blamed the postponement on logistics challenges that could have affected the process negatively.
Fijabi noted that the postponement came despite expressed assurances by INEC on its readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible elections.
She said that the commission should improve on its operations for the conduct of credible elections and reassure Nigerians of its preparedness.
She stressed the need for INEC to continue collaborations with security services to provide a safe environment for personnel, voters, election observers and election materials.
She said: “INEC has to continue to dialogue with all relevant stakeholders during this period to ensure trust is maintained until the elections are held.
“All political parties should engage peacefully and constructively in the electoral process to ensure transparent, peaceful and credible elections.”
Fijabi said that the postponement could result to voter apathy, especially of eligible women willing to vote.
The CEO, however, urged Nigerians and women to see the postponement as part of Nigeria’s democratic evolution and still have faith in it.
Fijabi urged women to go out en masse and cast their votes on the new dates.
According to her, the overall social and economic implications of the postponement of the elections on diverse range of stakeholders are enormous.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the US said it fully supported the decision of the heads of ECOWAS and other international missions on the postponement of the election in Nigeria.
In a statement in Abuja on Saturday, February 16, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria encouraged Nigerians to support the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.
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Source: Legit.ng
