Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of
Kaduna state, says any attempt to postpone the 2019 general election will
threaten the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
Makarfi said this in reaction to
the statement by Mahmood Yakubu, chairman, Independent Electoral Commission
(INEC), that the electoral body might be compelled to suspend the 2019 general
election following threats of violence by some politicians.
Yakubu reportedly said this when
he received briefing from Olusegun Agbaje, resident electoral commissioner of
Osun state, on the progress and the preparedness for the September 22
gubernatorial election in the state.
Some politicians were said to
have threatened to shed blood.
“In fact, the electoral Act,
specially section 26, empowers the commission to suspend election on account of
violence or threat of violence” Yakubu was quoted to have said.
“Elections cannot be conducted in
an atmosphere of rancor. So, we share this great responsibility with the
security agencies. Good election is good for this country. Bad election is a
recipe for disaster; we don’t pray for it.”
However, Makarfi in a statement
issued on his behalf by Mukhtar Sirajo, his spokesman, said the idea of putting
off the election, for whatever reason, is condemnable.
He asked INEC to “stop
daydreaming and wake up to the challenges facing the country and their own
roles in confronting the challenges”.
“The report the Independent
National Electoral Commission Chairman (INEC), has hinted at the possibility of
postponing the 2019 general election on account of threats of violence must
have come to not a few Nigerians as the shocker of the year, not only because
the Commission had hitherto been giving assurances of its readiness for the
polls but also because of the significance and crucial nature of the elections
to the development of democracy in the country and its continued peaceful
coexistence,” the statement read.
“Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi
has been appalled by the news and had actually been expecting either a rebuttal
or at least a clarification by the Commission, neither of which has, so far
happened.
“Makarfi believes that even the
idea of putting off the election, for whatever reason, is condemnable, because
it toys not only with the feelings and aspirations of Nigerians but also the
survival of the democratic dispensation.
“That, coming from the body that
is constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of organizing and
conducting the elections makes it more alarming, for it point towards a
reluctance, lack of capacity or complicity, or all, to thwart Nigeria’s march
towards an enduring democracy.
“It clearly does not inspire
confidence that those in charge are prepared to midwife free, fair and credible
polls.”
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Yakubu can never dealiver free fair credble election in nigeria. Becouse he his working for his master buhari
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