The Labour Party governorship candidate in Kwara state, Issa Aremu, has said the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was accompanied with mixed feelings.
Aremu said the decision of the umpire to fix 23rd February and 9th March 2019 for the much awaited elections came as a surprise and disappointment for all labour party candidates and members who are ready to exercise their democratic rights but could not do so.
Aremu however said he received the news of postponement with some optimism that INEC has another one week to put the proper arrangements for free and fair elections.
“It is certainly unacceptable that some voting materials are not ready after four years of preparations. It is also embarrassing that the postponement came so late in the day with all the attendant costs for poor voters who had to travel to and fro to vote.
“There was enough notification for 2015 postponement based on security reasons. INEC is right that the postponement is “one difficult decision”, but it is even more challenging for the electorate and candidates alike who woke up for no voting show.