- The Senator representing Nasarawa west senatorial district has said that the explanation given by the electoral body for election postponement is cogent
- Abdullahi Adamu however said that the informing on the postponement of the election by INEC was not timely
- According to Adamu, INEC ordinarily should have been aware before 12 midnight on Friday that the elections are having some challenges
Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa west), says the explanations offered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the postponement of Presidential and National Assembly elections are cogent, but untimely.
Adamu, a former two-term governor of Nasarawa State and APC senatorial candidate, stated this while reacting to the reasons tendered by INEC for shifting the election, on Sunday, February 17, in Keffi.
According to him, INEC ordinarily should have been aware before 12 midnight on Friday that the elections are having some challenges.
READ ALSO: Election 2019: Catholics dedicate February 23 to God, pray for Nigeria's unity
“From the day INEC conducted the last general elections, they know constitutionally the day they are going to conduct next elections.
“I am saddened by the postponement of elections because up till midnight of Friday I was under the impression that the election will hold on Saturday.
“Mine is more than an ordinary interest because I am a candidate in the election and i know the trauma of campaign and trauma of expectations that accompanied candidate in an elections like this,” he said.
The former governor noted that the INEC chairman assured the nation of the polls up to the hour before the announcement for the postponement was made, advising the commission to respect time because time is of essence in anything we do.
The lawmaker also urged INEC to take lessons and put appropriate measures to avoid the recurrence of what happened, saying “We hope that the assurance given by INEC Chairman will be realised.
“We can be seen not to be growing with this institution and we must be seen to make difference and learn lessons from one episode to the next.
“When or if we don’t it is a sign of failure and we hope we don’t see another postponement of elections,” Adamu said.
READ ALSO: APC demands 7 things from INEC ahead of rescheduled elections
He appealed to all candidates who are contesting and stakeholders to bear the lapses, forge ahead and support the electoral umpire.
“The reality is that the explanation that we are receiving from INEC are convincing enough, yet it did not come on time. The timing of the explanation is untimely because time is of essence in anything that we do,” said the APC senatorial flag bearer.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Catholic church of Nigeria has dedicated Saturday, February 23, the presidential ad National Assembly election day to God.
Worshippers at the Saints Peter and Saint Paul Catholic Church, Tedi, Lagos on Sunday, February 17, dedicated the day of Nigeria's presidential and National Assembly election, February 23 to God for a successful general election.
The Church had previously consecrated February 16 before the postponement of the elections.
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#Election2019: International, local observers comment on poll's shift | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
