The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola had earlier acknowledge the huge goodwill INEC had enjoyed from the government and Nigerians. He thus assured INEC wouldn’t do anything to compromise that goodwill.
But with the postponement, it does appear the goodwill is dwindling based on comments by electorates.
A cross-section of the voters lashed out at INEC over the cancellation, alleging compromise.
Some of the voters who spoke to our correspondent in Lagos expressed disappointment over INEC.
They wondered why INEC would not be prepared when it has received so much funds and privileges.
Bar. Ohinmah N. Augustine, who registered at the polling unit just opposite INEC headquarters in Yaba and claimed to have arrived for voting by 8.00am took INEC to the cleaners over the postponement.
“I arrived at about 8.00am. The accreditation was embarrassingly slow even though it started at about 9.00am. This postponement has further dampened my spirit over the capability of INEC conducting free and fair elections,” he said, adding that this may discourage Nigerians from coming out to vote.
“Government should do something concrete to assuage the poor situation. This is capable of demoralizing electorate. INEC cannot claim now it is not fully prepared. This is wrong,” he concluded.
Also Omotayo Olufemi, a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) member in Yaba Lagos also expressed dissatisfaction with the postponing.
He fingered an orchestrated plan to frustrate the elections, but added that whatever the plan is, the “PDP empire would be crumbled this time round.”
He advised INEC to prepare well before calling out Nigerians to vote again because INEC has been given all the funds and supports it needs.
Chief Tayo Soyede, another electorate who came to vote at the polling unit opposite INEC office in Yaba, Lagos, said he was disappointed with the postponement, adding that government would have a great deal of job persuading Nigerians to come out to vote.
Festus Omobokhai, another voter, said “Jega knew what was happening. He would have postponed it as earlier. As I gathered, some people have already voted. What happens to the materials? Wasted? This is a huge economic waste and Jegga should apologize.”
