Marcus Fatunmole (Abuja)
Residents of Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Saturday condemned the sudden postponement of 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
The shift nevertheless, they called on electorate across the nation to come out and vote on the rescheduled dates for the elections.
Faith Eze who lives along the Airport Road said: “I feel bad. I feel INEC is not serious. They didn’t take people serious in postponing the date. It’s so bad.
They’ve disorganized so many people. At first, I was disorganized when I heard it. For almost two hours, I didn’t know what to do. I was confused; all the plans for the day were gone. I think government is not people-oriented. I think they are selfish.”
She said it is a lie that INEC had logistic problem as claimed by the commission.
“What stopped them from moving sensitive materials many days before? It is something they knew since. Some people travelled for this election. Some people left their businesses. It’s not that anyone paid them for this. They travelled long distance. My colleague travelled. And, you tell them tomorrow they should come and vote? That’s all. I think those things are lies, they are not saying the truth.”
She however noted that INEC would never conduct credible elections with the development.
Speaking with Kaftan Post, Chukwuemeka Okolie a resident of Airfore Base village, said It’s disheartening that a thing like this is happening. This is actually one of the plans. If they postpone the elections, they will be able to demoralize Nigerians from voting, and, those from the diaspora who came to vote in these elections, just to kill their spirit. I believe they will not succeed. I still believe that Nigeria should expect more.
“God is actually allowing this thing for us citizens to sit up, to prepare for worst to happen. I believe that a lot of things are still going to happen. Things are just unfolding. They have done this to demoralize Nigerians concerning the elections. But, I believe there is God who has a better plan for us.”
He said by God’s grace, the elections would hold and the results would favour God’s candidates in the elections.
On the effects of the postponement on the image of the image, Chuks said it was bad. He said foreigner observers and the international community would not be happy with the development.“It is the country we have found ourselves in. The system is wrong. I believe that God is going to bring a leader who will set the standard for good governance in Nigeria.”
Similarly, Adeleke Mattew, who lives at Lugbe area of the city said: “I think this is just political way of doing things. They have their reason for doing this.
According to the INEC Chairman, this morning, he said it is for the safety of the election. But, if other people want to view it, they may want to see it in other way, probably they (INEC) have their underground plans which they want to execute and they’ve not really gotten the tactics to use in order to rig the election or maneuver things.”
He said the postponement does not speak well for the nation. “Already, they have this believe that Nigerians are criminals. This kind of thing will not allow them to have 100 percent trust in Nigeria. I think the best is for our leaders to amend their ways and make things work fine.
According to him, despite the shift, God will still help the nation and INEC organize credible poll next week and the week after, as scheduled. “Let’s hope that things will be normal. This step they’ve taken now will really make people feel discouraged. But, let’s keep our hope in God, and He will make all things perfect,” he said.
