President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday appealed to all stakeholders to accept the shift in the dates of the general elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday in good faith.
He also assured them that despite the change in dates of the elections, he remained committed to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as the terminal date of his four-year first term.
Jonathan made his position known in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
The chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had on Saturday announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections earlier fixed for February 14 would now hold on March 28 while the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for February 28 had been shifted to April 11.
Jonathan said rather than trading blames and making statements that are capable of overheating the polity, stakeholders must show understanding and support INEC.
He called on the international community, civil society and the electorate to continue to support his administration’s commitment to free, fair and credible elections.
Justifying the postponement, Jonathan said INEC 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.
The statement read, “Following the adjustment of the dates for the 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured the nation of his commitment to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as the terminal date of his first term in office.
“He strongly reaffirms that May 29 is, has been, and will remain sacrosanct.
“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.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Dumb move by a dumb president. Shame on you!. You will still lose.....that much you can't postpone forever.
ReplyDeleteNo mata how long it take a stammarin child would eventually pronouce his fada's name. jona u ar addin problems 2 ur problems, u mus b disapointed com mach 28. mumu president
ReplyDeleteGej na ur handwork but pls let me assure u it wil never stop Apc victory
ReplyDeleteAffirmation of failure and cluelessness
ReplyDeleteFrom day one my vote is not for PDP and will never. This is unacceptable reason something you couldn't do in six years.
ReplyDeleteU, i mean gej u should also b ready 2 accept ur own defeat in good faith com 28 march. a badluck president. wawa kawai
ReplyDeleteYou will also accept ur defeat in good faith.
ReplyDeleteYou will also accept ur defeat in good faith.
ReplyDeleteMr jona sir,u are funny enough but let me assure u that we will march 4buhari @ march 28th
ReplyDeleteThank you mr president. An APC victory will surely bring hardship and war to this country . The devil himself is a member of this evil party who encourages and masterminds kiilings of my people in the north. GEJ till 2019.
ReplyDeleteHow much did they buy your conscience to post this rubbish?
DeleteHis/her conscience need not to be bought! What's happening is a very well orchestrated plot to discredit this regime. We all know who is behind this. That their is not yet a fool proof evidence doesn't mean that the all tale tell signs pointing to him are false! What's happening is exactly what he expected and worked for. He said the dog and baboon will soak in blood! He is using security as a campaign strategy, they nominated him to negotiated for him, he solemnly believes in sharia even for people of other religion, he is a coupist, he was a dictator and still is!, he is very arrogant, he is an extremely ethnic bigot, he feigns honesty, he is a well known lier...the list goes on and on...yes the incumbent may not have delivered as expected, but obviously he hasn't done awfully bad as the Tinubu "controlled" western media propagandist wants to make us believe. It's better to have one who has acknowledged his failings than have a dictator whose "hands are soaked in blood" take charge! The least he can do for Nigeria is to render appology to nigerians and not insult our intelligence by trying to come back repeatedly for the past years! March him to retirement! He's got grand kids to take care of!
DeleteAm even wondering, can't INEC install CCTV Cameras on every Polling Centers? The polling centers wouldn't be up to 10,000 now. Y can't our President think of using this method if truly they're planning for CREDIBLE ELECTION?
ReplyDeleteDen go see APC line on every polling centers as e go long like Python and PDP Like cobra length.
PDP, they too know they are in trouble.
I initially wanted to caste my vote for GEJ but he has just proved that he is a bad luck. Clueless president!
ReplyDeleteJona, no be you say you be Oga ... na why you dey run, you for wait and see watin for happen to you and you corhorts... see your level of corruption, mumu!!!
ReplyDeleteThough these comments are from the same source, let me assure you that BURHARI is going no where. GET will win in a landslide!. So spare your breathe for you can't deceive majority of Nigeria. From all the APC campaigns, we have not seen any novelty idea that we can call change. It is not surprising, cos the members are POP deserting members, the very group that has been clog in the wheel of progress. All the Jonahs are out of the boar, the sail shall now be better and faster. GOD thank you for giving a humble and focused president like President Jonathan
ReplyDeleteIf ur oga and pay master is so sure of victory why is he so jittery. His excuses hold no ground.
DeleteTHIS IS A SHAME. POSTPONEMENT OR NOT, IT IS ALL OVER FOR PDP. YOU ARE JUST POSTPONING THE EVIL DAY AND THE DAY OF YOUR DEFEAT, THE IDES OF MARCH SHALL COME. NIGERIANS GIRD YOUR LOINS. PDP TRICKS ARE LEGION. THE NEXT ONE IS STATE OF EMERGENCY. IT WILL FAIL TOO. THEN THEY MAY COMPROMISE THE ARMY TO STRIKE ALL IN THE BID TO STOP APC AND BUHARI. NO PERSON WILL EVER STOP AN EVENT WHOSE TIME HAS COME TO PASS. PDP MUST EMBRACE THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL. THE LAW OF GRAVITY IS BECKONING ON PDP. SHAME ON ALL THAT CONCOCTED THIS POSTPONEMENT SAGA. THE CLOUD DECEIVES ITSELF TO THINK IT CAN COVER THE SUN. Jay 2, Abuja.
ReplyDeleteCourt will stop ur Candidate bcos he is a Criminal who lied under Oath and Fake a certificate instead of writing Cambridge for his Certificate
Deletecourt will double stop your GEJ, one, where is his thesis for his Phd, he lied under oat in 2007, 2011 and two, no president is to rule for more that 8years. we are waiting for you guys. dump head!!!
DeleteGood faith my ass. You have acted in nothing but bad faith so far. Nigerians are tired of being governed by inept people.
ReplyDeleteGEJ has exhausted All he had. He has started playing around like the polical Maradona. Nigerians and APC in particular should monitor him and his group, they will want to be funny. Nothing else to offer again but, rather confusion in the months to come. We will all not give them the chance to execute their plans, We should all remind ourselves of Ekiti Election saga (rigging) masterminded by GEJ and his cohorts + the military. Nigerians open your eyes. I voted for him in 2011 for "FRESH AIR" but he disappointed, non to show for our votes in 2011. The committee of Nations, including US + BRITAIN is not left out. GEJ MUST GO!
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that Nigerians are wiser now and no "polithiefing rheotoric" can sway us. Nobody, however powerful he/she may be, can change the gender of an unborn baby in the womb of the mother. I am resolute and will vote wisely come rain or shine, what of you? My prayer is that God, Almighty should spare our lives beyond all the rescheduled dates to discharge our civic responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteAnd now the most desperate of all moves. But, as has been asked all over the media, will the armed forces now achieve in six weeks what they failed to achieve in six years? So, when after six weeks BH is still scaring them shitless, what will the NSA and Service Chiefs advice the President to do? This is 'gofment magic' like the great Fela once sang. But one day na one day...
ReplyDeleteAccept corruption in good faith, according to this clown who calls himself president. Shame on you Jonathan for what you are doing to this nation of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteHe threatened Jega to popstpone or be arerested by EFCC and the poor man succumbed, God will safe Nigeria.
ReplyDelete