“Nigerians not to crucify the leadership of INEC on this issue. He opined that it is quite encouraging to find an upright man like Jega who can come out boldly to take responsibility for the mistake of his agency and refusing to tow the path of his predecessors who would have gone ahead irrespective of the situation and later declare concocted results.”
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13 years ago
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INEC ABORTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION,
NOW HOLDS MONDAY, 4TH APRIL
Today, the body in charge of elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) aborted the ongoing elections into the National Assembly of the country.
The commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega in a Press Conference announced the cancellation and attributed it to delay in arrival of some voting materials at polling centres and announced that the elections will now come up on Monday, 4th April, 2011.
Jega, while answering questions from journalists accepted full responsibility for the mess, though saying that INEC vendors were unable to deliver the materials.
In a swift reaction, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko described the cancellation as an embarrassment calling on the people to remain calm and go out on Monday to perform their civic right by voting for credible candidates who are ready to turn things around for better in the country.
Speaking to Eminent Leaders, Rev’d Dr. Oscar Egwuonwu, a politician and former gubernatorial candidate of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Enugu State at the last general elections has called on Nigerians not to crucify the leadership of INEC on this issue. He opined that it is quite encouraging to find an upright man like Jega who can come out boldly to take responsibility for the mistake of his agency and refusing to tow the path of his predecessors who would have gone ahead irrespective of the situation and later declare concocted results. Egwuonwu still believe that a failure is a failure and that INEC has failed Nigerians again but expressed optimism that Nigerians will still go ahead and vote for their representatives come Monday.
Olumide Ogunkua, the Special Assistant to The Attorney-General of Ondo State, says the cancellation is a bitter pill to swallow judging by the enthusiasm displayed by the people today in their readiness to elect a new set of responsible leaders to represent them. He says it is painful that as a nation, it seems we are unable to get it right whenever the opportunity presents itself, lamenting why are we so blessed? This election has been described as the most expensive in the history of Africa. Why all this?
Several other Nigerians have expressed total disappointment in the development and the call for Jega’s resignation is mounting from several quarters, while some thought it could be the handiwork of those bent on rigging the election.