Kunle ADELABU
INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu and other national commissioners: Presidential and governorship elections postponed
Following the postponement of the President and National Assembly from Saturday 16 to Saturday 23, 2019, some voters have examined the implications of the development on the polity.
Those that contributed to the post-postponement discussion on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform adduced many likely effects that the development may cause among which are heightening of Nigerians distrust for the electoral process, apathy, untoward hardship on political parties and candidates and economic and social loss to Nigerians whose businesses and social activities were grounded by the elections among others.
Some of the voters also expressed fears that the postponement may favour the opposition parties, especially the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .
Tayo Odesanya, while reacting during the discussion on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform, stated that the postponement may favour the opposition and called on the ruling party to put in place measures to handle such situation.
“If you ask me, any postponement will count negatively against the incumbent, objectively speaking. Reason why there should be some handsome investments on damage control so that the undecided voters won’t be swayed in the opposition’s direction.
Mr Monday Ohi Obadan in his own contribution listed voters’ apathy in subsequent rescheduled elections, compromising of INEC’s integrity, reduction in landslide votes for PMB and possible alignment of undecided voters with the main opposition party, PDP, as possible implications of the postponement.
Other likely effects that he listed are lost of revenue, heightened insecurity, low turnout for the rescheduled elections and problem for INEC to find an alibi to defend and justify the humongous budget approved for it to conduct the elections.
“The postponement is likely to affect the numerical status of the polls”, Obadan added.
Barristes Adeboye Dankwo, a legal practitioner and community leader, while also contributing to the discourse on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform, listed, “Moral burden of trust, psychological burden of apathy, economic burden of loss, social burden of readjustment of plans, programmes and movements and promotion of unnecessary suspicion of anything, anyway, and anywhere relating to the elections”, as possible implications of the postponement .
Barrister. Daniel, while advising the candidates stated that, “… go back quickly to the drawing board with many think tanks to critically analyse the new development, employ the theory of permutations and combinations by way of parametric equations and restrategise immediately. However, all these would be a function of the feelers from INEC” .
Miss Arinola Okeowo in her own reaction sympathized with the candidates.
“I really don’t want to assume the state they would be in now (especially the NASS candidates), funds to run elections must have been disbursed yesterday, now they have to hit the town again and resume campaign activities and that means more money and energy”.
She also stated that the postponement would reduce President Buhari’s votes.
“But one thing I know is, this decision just reduced Buhari’s vote because I honestly do not see why the announcement had to wait till few hours to the elections . That’s the height of it”.
Hammed Solange, while also stating the likely effects of the postponement listed realignment of other political parties with APC, increase in the financial transactions in the coming week…, heightening of political tension and high blood pressure for members and candidates of PDP….”.
Comrade Julius Oloyede, in his own contribution, challenged electorate to be resolute in exercising their rights.
“ Serious minded members of the electorate will remain resolute and vote on coming Saturday for their candidates. It’s not too unusual or shocking in our context. A step to the next level!”.
