APC Condemns Postponement Of Elections, Asks INEC To Be Neutral

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party faulted the decision of the electoral umpire in a statement on Saturday by the spokesperson for its Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Festus Keyamo.

READ ALSO: INEC Postpones General Elections To February 23

Keyamo, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said they received the news of INEC’s decision with “great disappointment and disillusionment”.

“We condemn and deprecate this tardiness of the electoral umpire in the strongest terms possible,” he said.

“President Muhammadu Buhari had since cooperated fully with INEC by ensuring everything it demanded to conduct free and fair elections were promptly made available to it.”

The APC campaign council spokesman noted that the postponement was a disappointment to his party and their supporters across the country.

He, therefore, warned INEC against bowing to the purported pressure of the opposition which he said was not ready for the elections.

According to Keyamo, credible demographic projections have predicted a defeat of the opposition party and it needs the breather to halt President Muhammadu Buhari’s momentum.

“We do hope that INEC will remain neutral and impartial in this process as the rumour mill is agog with the suggestion that this postponement has been orchestrated in collusion with the main opposition,” he alleged.

The council spokesman added, “It is in the light of the above that we wish to appeal to Nigerians and our supporters to be patient, calm and resolute despite this temporary setback.

“Let us not give anyone … the opportunity to plunge this nation into a crisis, which is what they earnestly desire.”

INEC had postponed the general elections by a week, less than five hours to the start of the polls.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced the decision at a short press briefing held at 2:44 am on Saturday morning in Abuja.

According to him, the Presidential and National Assembly elections, initially scheduled for today, February 16, will now hold on February 23, while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections will take place on March 9.