Opposition party accuses electoral officials of partisanship -source: 234next

Ahmed Makama said the party’s observations include inadequate supply of materials, ballot papers and result sheets

 The decision to shift the date of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been hailed by some political parties, which described the move as a way of saving the country from further embarrassment.

However, others have insisted that INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega should resign his appointment for allegedly embarrassing the nation. The electoral body yesterday shifted by one week all the elections following the cancellation of the National Assembly elections last Saturday over shortage of election materials across the country.

The acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello Mohammed hailed the decision to shift the polls and urged the party’s supporters to remain calm. “We’ll continue to support INEC in delivering free, fair and credible elections. We need it as it aligns with our political objective of promoting and establishing political stability in the country and fostering national integration,” Mr. Mohammed said. “Our party stands to gain immensely in an atmosphere of free, fair and credible elections. Therefore no sacrifice is too much for our party in seeing our elections meet globally-acceptable standards.”

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said the postponement was a welcome decision because it will enable INEC to sort out its logistical problems. The national publicity secretary of the party, Rotimi Fashakin, however regretted the cancellation of the polls. “We welcome the decision because we believe it will give INEC enough time to sort out its logistical nightmares. We believe that it will also help to have credible polls. We’re ready to go into the polls on Saturday,” he told NEXT in a telephone interview last night.

Mr. Fashakin condemned calls for Mr Jega’s resignation, saying instead of that , all Nigerians should resolve to assist him succeed in his assignment. He recalled that the electoral bosshad in the past courageously stood on the path of equity and fairness going by some decision he took.

The spokesman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Emma Eneukwu said the party has been vindicated because it was the first to reject the Monday date earlier fixed by INEC after the parliamentary elections had been cancelled. He said the party had initially demanded that the elections be held on the same day with the presidential election, but that it is satisfied with the new dates.

“We had earlier aligned ourselves with those aid that the National Assembly elections should be held the same day with the presidential election the reason being that it will not only save cost, it will ensure that the elections are conducted freely and fairly,” Mr. Eneukwu said. “The nation has taken time and resources to prepare for this election and so it is important that that everything is done properly. Let’s not hurriedly go into this exercise and forget that if it is not credible, we have all wasted our time. Parties also need time to prepare again given the cost of logistics and other things involved.”

The national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanayanwu also hailed the decision to postpone the elections, insisting that it will restore the confidence of the electorate in the process. Mr. Nwanyanwu said the political parties told INEC in clear terms at a meeting yesterday in Abuja that the Monday date earlier fixed for the parliamentary polls was not feasible and that the new date will allow the commission to resolve all the problems associated with the process. He advised Mr. Jega to put all mechanism in place to reassure Nigerians that the process will be credible so as to avoid apathy on the election day.