It is unusual for the majority of Nigerians to stand on a common front on any issue on Twitter, but the perceived ineptitude of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its late postponement of the 2019 Presidential election billed for February 16 seems to have irked the majority of Nigerians.
Many Nigerians, including the main opposition party and the incumbent government leadership and followership echoed utter disappointment that the general elections were postponed only a few hours to voting, after enormous preparations and expenditure countrywide.
To the chagrin of most, President Muhammadu Buhari also says he feels let down by INEC’s performance, but his expression of shock is seen by some as acting out a script, as the postponement is perceived to be tied to a broader plan to swing the election results in his favour.
The president who acknowledged the inconvenience on Nigerians, some whom have traveled to various locations to vote, and international observers on ground said: “I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.”
He charged INEC to ensure materials were not only distributed but also do everything to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.
While some are furious about the cost of wastages arising from the postponement on both national and individual purses, others say trusting INEC to deliver credible election has become a hard task.
Some of the tweets read thus:
“Hmmm. The human cost of our not getting things right is what gets to me the most. Families with so little income incurring costs either to go vote or for safety. Pictures of our Youth Corp members in undignified state of being. Visitors from abroad shaking their heads @ us,” Obi Ezekwesili former presidential candidate tweeted on @Obyezeks.
@DrJoeAbah said:
“When our uncaring airlines postpone our flights & just tell us it’s for “operational reasons”, they at least pretend to “regret any inconveniences this may cause.” INEC couldn’t even be bothered to pretend that it regrets any inconveniences caused to us. Poor!”
@MoghaluKingsley tweeted “INEC’s postponement of the elections signposts the recycling of failure under the APC and PDP, But…”
“INEC you had 4 good years to prepare for this election. You subjected Corpers to this harsh cold weather. They slept on the bare floor. No proper arrangements were made. But you still postponed election after all these stress by corps members,#ThisIsNigeria #NigeriaDecides2019” @Iam_future said in his tweet.
@GovAyoFayose said: “Two days ago, I told Nigerians that the Presidency cabal were considering postponement of the elections because they knew that they can’t win. Now I’m vindicated. With this, they have only succeeded in making their situation worse. Nigerians will defeat this tyranny ultimately.”
@akinalabi
“I’m absolutely disgusted that the elections were postponed. Shocking decision. Inec has disappointed ALL Nigerians with this.”
@Chydee
“If the system works, everything will work. As much as INEC is independent, their inefficience is a consequence of the inefficience of the system. If we get our leadership right, the system will become efficient. Draw your own conclusions. #NigeriaDecides2019”
@Pius_adesanmi
“Haughty arrogance. It was a difficult decision. And patati. And patata. You’ve just bungled d only job u had after burning billions in public funds. No apologies to anybody. Nigerians are so used to this kind of treatment by irresponsible public officials it almost feels normal.
“Looks like whenever incumbency faces imminent defeat, elections are postponed. The fact that people tried a particular strategy yesterday and failed is never deterrence. Today’s players will try the same strategy, believing that yesterday’s men just didn’t try hard enough.”
@Ayourb
“Mahmood Yakubu is a disgrace to everything nobility stands for, sadly he won’t resign, he would stay put to muddle things up more.”
@AGOmeiza
“Dear @MBuhari, you are very much free to postpone the election by one month. But you must handover to the people’s president @atiku on the 29th of May, 2019! No amount of rigging plots will save you! Nigerians have decided to elect Atiku already. Deal with it! #AtikuOurPresident”
Offline, at newspaper stands on the streets, the division was clear and loud and heated arguments, supporting and dismissing possible reasons for the abrupt postponement held here and there.
Paul Okike, a businessman believes the postponement is a reflection of the incumbent fear of defeat which has been seen coming.
“I tag this thing that just happened as first victory for PDP before the mega one will now come up February 23. I’m very disappointed in the INEC chairman that had N190 billion at his disposal and failed. Notwithstanding, they are just postponing the evil day which must come.”
Another elderly reader, who simply gave his name as Bright said INEC displayed no level of proactiveness in its arrangements. “Why the announcement early in the morning when election was supposed to take place today? We should have got the notice before now,” he said.
“The credibility of INEC is at stake. Is it certain it would hold next week because if they have been working for more than a year and they cannot articulate it to this point, how can they make it up in one week?”
But Idris Adegbola says since nobody is perfect, the excuse of logistics problem was passable.
“It is normal because the INEC materials have not got to some states. Nobody is perfect. It is only due to some logistic problems. It is not their fault. This is not the first time it will happen. It happened in 2011. While we were voting in 2015, they cancelled the election.”
Temitayo Ayetoto
