ACF berates INEC for shifting elections late

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned reschedule of the presidential and national assembly elections for next week.

ACF in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, said the earlier assurances given to Nigerians by the Independent National Electoral Commission that it would deliver on credible, free and fair elections on schedule, heightened the enthusiasm of Nigerians to look forward to the elections.

The forum noted that political parties and NGOs embarked on vigorous campaigns and sensitization programs on the need to a free and fair elections while foreign and domestic election observers mobilized themselves to participate in today’s elections process only for INEC to reverse itself five hours to the commencement of voting.

ACF said while it appreciates the concern raised by INEC regarding its logistic preparation and constitutional power to reschedule the elections, the shift should have been done earlier to reduce cost and inconveniences for all parties concerned.

“ACF and indeed all Nigerians have no option but to accept the reasons advanced by INEC and to have faith that it will live up to its promise to hold the re-scheduled elections on the 23rd February and 9th March 2019,” the forum stated and urged Nigerians to be patient and continue to persevere.

“We also call on Nigerians to continue to be prayerful, remain calm and restrain themselves from any act of lawlessness that will jeopardize the democratic process of free and fair election.,” the forum noted and called on INEC to use this opportunity and ensure that adequate logistic preparations are put in place for a successful re-scheduled election for 23rd February and 9th March 2019.