Elections postponement: NLC calls for massive turnout despite disappointment

by Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja As reactions continue to trail the postponement of this year’s general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has appealed to Nigerians to put behind them the ugly incident and brace up for the rescheduled election next weekend. While expressing shock at the last minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 16, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba in a statement said the Congress shares in the pains of those who in an uncommon show of patriotism, had to travel long distances to perform their civic duty. He further appealed to Nigerians not to be disillusioned or react to this postponement in a manner that will create voter-apathy as it will certainly be counterproductive and will in the long run work against the interests of the electorates. In spite of huge costs to them, Wabba called on all Nigerians to self-mobilise on the same scale that they did the previous weekend. Speaking further, the NLC President appealed to institutions to be flexible with their staff to enable them travel in good time to perform this important civic duty even if it means government declaring a day or two public holiday to achieve this. “We at the Nigerian Labour Congress join other Nigerians in expressing our shock at the last minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 16, 2019. “We share in the pains of those who in an uncommon show of patriotism, had to travel long distances to perform their civic duty. “We similarly understand the outrage of those who had incurred huge and unquantifiable logistic costs. “No explanation will be good enough given INEC’s repeated assurances and the zeal of Nigerians to cast their vote. “However, given the fact that had the election taken place, a huge number of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised on account of gross and wide-spread logistic deficit, the postponement, as painful as it is, is a lesser evil of the two. “In light of this, we enjoin all Nigerians to quickly put behind them this ugly incident and brace up for the rescheduled election next weekend. “As for INEC, we do hope they have learnt their lesson. On no account ever again, should they allow this to happen. All effort and expertise must be deployed by INEC to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. “Finally, we appeal to all Nigerians to put this incident behind them and go out en-mass to vote next weekend.” said Wabba