Accept election postponement in good faith, Jonathan to stakeholders

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday appealed to all stakeholders to
accept the shift in the dates of the general elections as announced by
the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday in good
faith.
He also assured them that despite the change in dates of the
elections, he remained committed to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as
the terminal date of his four-year first term.
Jonathan made his position known in a statement made available to
journalists in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,
Dr. Reuben Abati.
The chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had on Saturday announced
that the presidential and National Assembly elections earlier fixed
for February 14 would now hold on March 28 while the governorship and
Houses of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for February 28 had
been shifted to April 11.
Jonathan said rather than trading blames and making statements that
are capable of overheating the polity, stakeholders must show
understanding and support INEC.
He called on the international community, civil society and the
electorate to continue to support his administration's commitment to
free, fair and credible elections.
Justifying the postponement, Jonathan said INEC has a responsibility
to conduct credible elections in which every Nigerian of voting age is
afforded the opportunity to exercise their civic right without any
form of hindrance.
The statement read, "Following the adjustment of the dates for the
2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral
Commission from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11,
yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured the nation of his
commitment to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as the terminal date of his
first term in office.
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"He strongly reaffirms that May 29 is, has been, and will remain sacrosanct.
"The President appeals to all stakeholders to accept the adjustment of
the election dates by INEC in good faith, as the electoral body has a
responsibility to conduct credible elections in which every Nigerian
of voting age is afforded the opportunity to exercise their civic
right without any form of hindrance.
"President Jonathan believes that this is not a time to trade blames
or make statements that may overheat the polity, but a time to show
understanding and support the electoral commission to conduct the
elections successfully.
"It is the President's understanding that INEC's decision ought not to
generate acrimony since it acted within its powers under the law and
in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
"He calls on the international community, civil society and the
electorate to continue to support the administration's commitment to a
free, fair, credible, and non-violent electoral process."
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