UK, US, Buhari, ACF flays election postponement

Outrage, on Sunday, greeted Saturday's postponement of the February 14
and 28 general elections by the Independent National Electoral
Commission.
Among those that flayed the shift are the United States, the United
Kingdom, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress,
Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd; the Arewa Consultative Forum, the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, senators and a senior Advocate
of Nigeria, Femi Falana.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at a news conference in Abuja
on Saturday night, announced that the elections would hold March 28
and April 1, 2015.
He said that security agencies informed the commission that they would
not be available to provide adequate support if the polls were to
take place on February 14 and February 28 as earlier scheduled.
The US, in a statement in Washington DC by its Secretary of State,
John Kerry, expressed disappointment over the development and
cautioned that the Federal Government should not use security
as a pretext to derail democracy.
It warned against what it described as "political interference with
the duties of INEC, " but told the Federal Government to ensure that
the elections were not delayed any further than the new dates.
The US statement reminded the government that the world was watching
Nigeria, adding that Washington's interest was to see a "free,
transparent, and credible electoral process in Nigeria."
The statement read, "The US is deeply disappointed by the decision to
postpone Nigeria's presidential election, which had been scheduled for
February 14.
"Political interference with INEC is unacceptable, and it is critical
that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for
impeding the democratic process.
"The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian
government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The US
underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further
delays.
"We support a free, transparent, and credible electoral process in
Nigeria and renew our calls on all candidates, their supporters, and
Nigerian citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related
violence.
The UK, in an electronic mail to one of our correspondents by its
Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond , said the shift of the elections
was a cause for concern.
Like the US, it advised the Federal Government against using the
security situation in the North-East as a reason to deny Nigerians the
right to exercise their democratic rights.
The email read, "The decision by INEC to postpone the presidential
elections is a cause for concern. The Nigerian people have the right
to credible, peaceful and transparent elections. There should be no
further delay in delivering democracy and we urge all to remain calm
during this period of frustration.
"While we support Nigeria in its struggle against terrorism, the
security situation should not be used as a reason to deny the Nigerian
people from exercising their democratic rights. It is vital that the
elections are kept on track and held as soon as possible in accordance
with international norms."
INEC's independence compromised – Buhari
The APC presidential candidate, Buhari, said by shifting the dates
based on the excuse by the military, INEC had shown that its
independence had been compromised.
He however added in a statement that the electoral body should not
be blamed for the poll shift as it was boxed into a corner.
Buhari urged his supporters to remain calm because the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party would not succeed at the polls next month.
He said it was suspicious that after the National Security Adviser,
Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), failed to make INEC postpone the elections
based on the inability of some Nigerians to get their Permanent
Voter Cards, he (Dasuki) then came up with the issue of security at
the last minute.
Buhari said, "Following the decision by INEC to postpone the general
elections by six weeks, I wish to appeal for utmost restraint and calm
by all Nigerians, especially the teeming supporters of our great
party, the APC.
"This postponement, which comes on the heels of the bogey of the NSA
that half of the registered voters were being disenfranchised, was
exposed as a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral
process.
"The PDP administration has now engineered a postponement using the
threat that security will not be guaranteed across the length and
breadth of Nigeria because of military engagement in some states in
the North-East.
"It is important to note that although INEC acted within its
constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a
situation where it has had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence
of INEC has been gravely compromised."
The former Head of State urged his supporters not to take the law into
their hands as such could compound the insecurity in the country
He advised them to see the postponement as an opportunity to
strengthen their resolve for change.
Buhari said, "As a Nigerian and a presidential candidate in the
elections, I share in the disappointment and frustration of this
decision. This postponement coming a week to the first election has
raised so many questions, many of which shall be asked in the days
ahead. However, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted into taking
actions that could further endanger the democratic process.
"Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of
terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security
challenges in the country and provide further justification to those
who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic
process in the face of certain defeat at the polls.
"If anything, this postponement should strengthen our resolve and
commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and social
collapse from this desperate band. Our desire for change must surpass
their desperation to hold on to power at all cost." by those in power.
The pan-northern socio-political organisation, ACF, which also
expressed disapointment over the poll shift called on Nigerians to
be prayerful and desist from acts that could jeopardise the nation's
democracy.
The ACF noted in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary,
Muhammad Ibrahim, that intimidation, threat and arm-twisting by
individuals and groups would not be in the interest of democracy in
the country.
It said said, "We received with disappointment the INEC's decision to
re-schedule the elections citing security challenges in the states of
Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe as the main reason.
"ACF commends Nigerians for their patience and perseverance during
this trying moment of uncertainty that engulfed the nation in the last
three days.
"Nigerians should therefore continue to be prayerful, remain calm and
restrain themselves from any act of lawlessness that will jeopardise
the democratic process of free and fair election.
"It is only our collective resolve to respect the tenets of democracy
that will strengthen our unity and peaceful coexistence.
Also, the Independent Election Monitoring Group, described the INEC
shifting of the polls as a coup against democracy.
The National Coordinator of the group, Festus Okoye argued that the
IEMG was not convinced with the reason adduced for the shift in the
polls.
Okoye said: "the IEMG views the postponement as unwarranted and a
coup against the 1999 Constitution and the Nigerian people and
therefore unacceptable.
"We condemn the decision by the security agencies and forces not to
provide security for the February 2015 elections. The said decision is
a coup against democracy, the constitutional order, the electoral
process and the Nigerian people."
ASUU, the umbrella body of university teachers also flayed the
postponement of the elections but urged Nigerians to concentrate on
how to collect their PVCs.
The union said the shift was nothing but a ploy by the Federal
Government to buy more time using insecurity as a reason.
ASUU National President, Nasir Fagge, said that the challenge was
for Nigerians to be active in ensuring the emergence of a leadership
with focus on the people and its institutions.
Fagge said the 1999 Constitution had failed to give solution to some
of the fundamental problems facing the nation .
The Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Prof.
Segun Ajiboye, said, "Hiding under this security ruse will not help
the cabal trying to frustrate the genuine efforts of Nigerian seeking
desperately for a change. ''We condemn the shift in the polls but
however encourage Nigerians to keep calm in the face of unnecessary
provocations by those ruling cabal."
Also, the APC senators in the National Assembly condemned the decision
of INEC to postpone the elections.
The senators, in a statement by their spokesperson, Babafemi
Ojudu, described the postponement as a 'tele-guided plot' by the PDP
to derail democracy in the country.
They said, "What we are seeing is a desperate and jittery response to
the imminent defeat of the PDP. The postponement has shown the
helplessness of INEC in the face of a malicious cabal bent on
destroying the fabric of democracy.
"This decision is borne out of fear of defeat and malice against the
people of Nigeria in the face of the overwhelming support the APC
command across the country."
The opposition senators said that the PDP leadership, in collaboration
with INEC, had put Nigeria in extremely bad light in the comity of
nations.
Earlier, Senator Magnus Abe, an APC senator, had said, "My concern
really is not about the postponement but the fact that the military
are being used to do the bidding of a political party against the
wishes of other stakeholders in the election, including the
electorate.
"The fact that the call for the postponement of the election was
demanded by the National Security Adviser( Sambo Dasuki) is a proof
that the military could be used to obstruct an electoral process and
this is a dangerous signal to our democracy."
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Barnabas Gemade, a Peoples Democratic senator, told one of our
correspondents that INEC had not told Nigerians the real reasons why
the Federal Government and the military forced it to postpone the
electionS.
Gemade, a former National Chairman of the PDP, said, "The real
reason for the postponement of the elections has not yet been put on
the table for us to see.
"I do not see how six weeks would be enough for the military to
effectively tackle the Boko Haram insurgency which had remained a
threat to our country for years. However our party works according to
the laws of the land, we shall wait and see what they would do after
the six weeks."
Also, Senator Adegbenga Kaka of the Social Democratic Party Ogun ,
said no reason was justifiable enough to postpone the elections.
"In advanced democracies, elections days are made sacrosanct. There
are fixed dates for their polls. It is not possible for anybody to
wake up one day to contemplate the postponement of elections after we
have been given enough notice," the lawmaker added.
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of the Accord Party said he was not happy
that the election was postponed few days to the scheduled dates but
advised that the reason given by INEC should be considered
critically.
Falana described the postponement as "a coup against the Nigerian
constitution by the nation's security chiefs."
He said the security chiefs on whose counsel INEC hinged the
postponement of the polls, lacked the constitutional power to do so.
The SAN said, "In a desperate bid to blackmail the INEC to postpone
the elections the NSA wrote a letter to the INEC to the effect that
the armed forces could not provide security for the election because
of the operations in the north east region.
"By writing directly to the INEC on the security situation in the
north east region the NSA usurped the functions of the National
Security Council.
"That is the only body that has the constitutional duty to "advise the
President on matters relating to public security including matters
relating to any organisation or agency established by law for ensuring
the security of the federation.
"The council which is established under section 153 of the 1999
Constitution comprises the President, the Vice-President, the
Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of
Interior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Inspector-General of
Police and the NSA."
The European Union Elections Observation Mission said it was
currently assessing all facts and would decide next steps in the
coming days.
Its Media Officer, Eberhard Lowen, made this known while responding
to questions from The Punch in Abuja on Sunday.
Accept poll shift in good faith–Jonathan
But Jonathan on Sunday appealed to all stakeholders to accept the
shift in the dates for the polls in good faith.
He also assured that despite the change , 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 by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
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