Postponement of elections, a great shame to Nigeria -Dopa….Puts INEC integrity to question

EMMANUEL AWARI, Jalingo

The State Chairman, TEKAN/ECWA Block, Rev.  Philip Micah Dopa, has joined other Nigerians in condemning the decision of he Independent National Electoral Commission,  INEC, to postpone the 2019 General Elections.

“The postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections few hours to voting, I consider it as a great shame to Nigerians which has put the integrity of INEC into question, to the best of my knowledge, the preparation of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections started from 2017 when the commission rolled out the blue print on how the elections would be conducted only for INEC for reasons best known to  it, to put the masses  to untold hardship.

He disclosed that Nigerians were aware of the fact  that a budget of over N183 billion was approved for INEC  for the preparation of the General Elections, only for them to come just few hours to voting to fool Nigerians due to logistics problem that the commission had postponed the election.

” In fact, INEC owes Nigerians great apology, they must confess to Nigerians why they put many people into hardships, as I am talking with you now, many people to travel home to cast their votes for the leaders of their choice have had  their morale dampened”, he said.

He said  religious leaders and those who mean well from the people were encouraging people not to allow their morale to be dampened by the postponement.

“We are encouraging our followers not to be discouraged, but must come out to vote the credible candidates that would give Peace in their Nation”, he said.

On the confidence of INEC to conduct credible elections, he said: “We will give INEC a benefit of doubt, if they can justify the meaning of the word Independent. I call on them to be independent, let them not make attempt of colluding with any party to cause confusion in our country, they must be very transparent, fair come 29th February and 9th March 2019 in conducting the election”.

On comments made by PMB that he is not aware of the postponement, he said: ” If the President would say he is not aware of the postponement, I think it is laughable, is something that no one else would believe, if he is not aware the postponement of elections, then who is in control of INEC?, He just say so to fool Nigerians, no any meaningful Nigerian would believe that statement”.

He call on Tarabans especially members of the TEKAN / ECWA Block and UNCM Southern Conference which he is leading to turn up en masse on the election dates to exercise their franchise as responsible citizens of the nation.

“Let them not be scared by the statement of PMB that those that snatch ballot boxes, the Military should kill them, killings are not one of the Constitutional responsibilities of the Military during Elections, but they are to defend the territorial integrity of our nation.  People should be free to come out en masse and not to be intimidated by the Military, for they are there to protect and ensure law and order”, he said.

He appreciated members of the TEKAN / ECWA Block for coming out to exercise their Civic rights and encourage them not to allow the postponement to dampen their morale in subsequent elections.

For a better society