The postponement of the general elections for six weeks by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised reactions and counter reactions by the presidential candidates of the two major political parties PDP and APC.
The president and presidential candidate of the PDP, Goodluck Jonathan sees the postponement as a sign of responsibility on the part INEC to foster free and credible elections.
Jonathan in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Reuben Abati, appealed 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.
He further said that, “May 29 is, has been, and will remain sacrosanct”
On the other hand, General Muhammed Buhari the presidential candidate of the APC sees the postponement as a plot to circumvent Nigeria’s democracy.
In his words, “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”
They both however encouraged their supporters, electorates, civil societies and international body to keep calm and shun violence.