The Youth Party, one of the political parties seeking elections into various positions in the 2019 general elections, has lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over last weekend’s postponement of Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The party in a statement by Ilamosi Ekenimoh, its national publicity secretary, said the election postponement barely four hours to commencement on Saturday, February 16, without recourse to its implication on the economy, was not only embarrassing but condemnable. It, however, urged Nigerians not to give in to apathy, but to brace up to cast their votes for its candidates on the new dates.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman announced the postponement at about 2:00am on Saturday, citing logistical challenges.
According to the Youth Party, “It is with deep disappointment that we received the news of INEC’s postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, February 23, and Governorship and State Assembly Elections to Saturday, March 9, 2019, respectively.
Indeed, it is an unfortunate development: We do not welcome the postponement of an election that has been planned for approximately four years, hours to the commencement of voting.
“Due to this unfortunate disappointment, the lives and businesses of hardworking Nigerians have been disrupted. As a nation, we have incurred losses and costs, which would have been entirely avoidable.
We noted similar postponements in 2011 and 2015, and had hoped for better planning and implementation for future elections. Sadly, this is not the case.”
Ekenimoh, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to be prepared to vote for Youth Party on the new dates, saying Nigerians cannot afford disillusion and apathy.
“We must perform our civic duty. Delay is not denial, and with our commitment and togetherness, we will shape the future of our dear country,” the party said.
JOSHUA BASSEY
