Jonathan, Buhari Okay Elections Shift

              

President Goodluck Jonathan.

ALMOST 48 hours after the polls shift announcement, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday okayed the decision but pledged that the May 29 handover date was still sacrosanct.
In the same vein the All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential candidate Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday endorsed the shift but urged the authorities to ensure the March 28 rescheduled date for the general elections remain sacrosanct.
Meanwhile knocks and kudos have continued to trail the decision as the United States, the Conference of Political Parties (CNPP) and other human rights groups have condemned the postponement.
However, a member of the 2014 National Conference and founder of the defunct National Advance Party (NAP), Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has rejected the international community's pontification over election shift, saying that the exercise was shifted in the best interest of the country, "therefore it is unacceptable for any foreign nation to dictate or meddle into our internal affairs."
But the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil have okayed the shift and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address issues leading to the postponement.
In a related development, the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation declared yesterday that only a hundred per cent distribution of the Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) to all registered eligible voters before the March 28 Presidential election could ensure a free, fair and credible polls. In a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, he said that Jonathan was "strongly reaffirming" that May 29 is, has been, and would remain sacrosanct.
According to the statement: "The President appeals to all stakeholders to accept the adjustment of the election dates by INEC in good faith, as the electoral body has a responsibility to conduct credible elections in which every Nigerian of voting age is afforded the opportunity to exercise their civic right without any form of hindrance.
"President Jonathan believes that this is not a time to trade blames or make statements that may overheat the polity, but a time to show understanding and support the electoral commission to conduct the elections successfully.
"It is the President's understanding that INEC's decision ought not to generate acrimony since it acted within its powers under the law and in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
"He calls on the international community, civil society and the electorate to continue to support the administration's commitment to a free, fair, credible, and non-violent electoral process."
Addressing journalists yesterday at his campaign headquarters in Abuja, Buhari said the postponement has exposed the intents of the PDP not to allow elections to hold based on the fear of suffering heavy defeat at the polls.
In his address entitled: "We must remain calm but resolute," Buhari urged his teeming supporters not to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the democratic process.
Lamenting the pressures exerted on the INEC by the authorities, he maintained that the electoral umpire has played its "last card" since it is left with no option but conduct elections as specified by the constitution.
Flanked by chieftains of the party, he maintained that the APC would no longer tolerate any further interference in the electoral process.