By Saka Bolaji – Minna
Stakeholders in Niger state have reacted to the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP described the postponement as an embarrassment while the APC expressed sadness at the turn of events, even as the Campaign for Democracy called for a detailed investigation into the whole debacle.
PDP state Chairman, Alhaji Tanko Beji in a statement described the whole saga as “sad and very regrettable,” adding that “this is an unacceptable decision by the INEC which came a few hours to the conduct of the elections which we as a party had prepared for and was set to win.
“The action of INEC has not only ridiculed the nation in the eyes of the international community but has called to serious question the integrity of the chairman and other members of the commission.”
Tanko Beji therefore asked the chairman of the commission and other members to resign because they have lost the confidence of Nigerians.
State Secretary of the APC Alhaji Aminu Liman in his reaction, described the postponement as sad, adding that it has also brought to question the much acclaimed integrity of the chairman and members of the electoral commission.
Niger state Coordinator of the Campaign for Democracy, Alhaji Abdullahi Jabi regretted the action taken by INEC, but said “now that the elections have been postponed, INEC should put its house in order to forestall a future occurrence.
“This is not the time to apportion blame; we should all join hands with INEC to ensure it conducts a hitch- free election as from Saturday.”
