possibility of postponing the already scheduled general
elections.
At the Unity Fountain, near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where
protesters gathered, an armoured police vehicle and other
utility vehicles were seen parked with police officers scattered
around the area.
The protesters were however blocked by police officers as
they marched towards the headquarters of the Independent
National Electoral Commission.
A lady who simply identified herself as Sadatu said it was
very wrong and unfair for anyone to consider postponing the
elections.
“How can anybody think of this? That’s not fair, INEC had
four whole years to prepare for this election. If we could have
an election in 2011 when much was not in place, why not
now?” she asked.
Another protester said the credibility of INEC was at stake
with the rumoured postponement. He added that Nigeria’s
democracy was threatened with by the call for election
postponement at this time.
The protesters, with the intention of marching on the
presidential villa, had gathered at the same venue on Friday
marching towards the Eagle Square where they were blocked
by security operative
The protest was organised by the civic group, National
Consensus Movement.
The National Council of State had met on Friday and agreed
that the elections should go on as planned.
Attahiru Jega, Chairman, INEC, has said the commission is
prepared for the elections and has no plans for a
postponement.
However, the commission has been holding consultative
meetings all day to possibly review the scheduled dates for
election.
Before Friday’s anti-postponement protest, some allegedly
hired youths numbering about 100, had on Monday marched
on INEC headquarters demanding the postponement of the
elections.
The youth had gathered in front of the electoral body’s
headquarters, asking the commission to delay the polls
because of the difficulty in the distribution of the Permanent
Voters Card, PVCs.
The youth carried banners and placards with the inscriptions
such as “Election is for general participation, not for selective
few”, “INEC, do the right thing”, “Don’t disenfranchise
Nigerians”, and “We demand for the extension of election to
allow Nigerian exercise their franchise.”
After the protest, the youth returned to the Unity Fountain
where they were sighted sharing money.
It was not clear if they were sponsored by the Presidency or
the PDP, but sources indicated that they were hired by some
unnamed individuals who promised them money.
The protest confirmed PREMIUM TIMES exclusive story of last
Thursday revealing the plot by the Presidency and the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party to organize a nationwide protest
against the electoral body to force it to shift the polls.
The National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel,
recently at an event in London, made a case for a shift of the
elections to give INEC more time to distribute all the PVCs.
However, criticisms trailed the call with Nigeria’s leading
opposition party, the All Progressives Congress alleging that
Mr. Dasuki was only making the call to buy time for President
Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign to gather steam.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/176429-
abuja-residents-protest-postponement-elections.html
No comments:
Post a Comment