Romanus Ugwu, Abuja, Rose Ejembi, Makurdi, Paul Osuyi, Asaba and Gyang Bere, Jos
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle has appealed to all Christians in the country and those in Diaspora to begin a prayer Programme from today, 19 February, 2019 and end it on Sunday for the success of the rescheduled elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and the National Assembly elections on Saturday, February 16, due to what it called logistics challenges and sabotage.
In a statement by Ayokunle’s Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the CAN president said: “The unfolding scenario on the political scene is not ordinary and there is a need for the Church to intercede for Nigeria. I want you to pray very well, this week, against some evil forces that are plotting against the election. If it’s about the things we see in the spirit, I am not sure that elections will hold at all. We should rise up and ask for transparent, free, fair and credible election that will even be better than those of the 2015.
“That is why we have asked you to pray this week. This is a week for prayers. Pray that bad people would not be involved in Nigeria’s affairs. About the elections, we will pray that they will not result in war, bring hardship and suffering unto the populace.
“It is our prayer that this will be the last time INEC will toy with any postponement, again. It is reprehensible, unacceptable, condemnable, ungodly and a national embarrassment and never again will Nigeria be subjected to this kind of rude shock of international proportion.”
From Benue State, Commissioner of Police, Omololu Bishi told newsmen that over 7,000 security personnel, who were deployed for last Saturday’s postponed general election, have returned to their places of primary assignment.
The security personnel, who were drawn from the police and other sister agencies such as the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Security (DSS) and others, according to Bishi, will return to their election duty posts, as from Thursday.
Meanwhile, INEC has commenced re-configuration of 5,823 Smart Card Readers (SCR) in Delta State. Also being re-configured is five percent of the SCRs; as back-up.
In a statement by the Head of Department for Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Mr. Bukola Ojeme, he apologised to Nigerians for the inconveniences the postponement of the elections had caused, and explained that the configuration is in compliance with timeline of activities for new poll dates.
From Abuja, the All Progressives Congress (APC) called for the redeployment of the Cross Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner, Frankland Briyai, on allegations that he is working with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); to manipulate the forthcoming elections in the state.
APC Vice Chairman in the South South, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, who made the call when he spoke with newsmen, in Abuja, declared that the APC has enough evidence to prove that the REC was biased and working in tandem with the PDP.
In Plateau State, Commissioner of Police, Isaac Olutayo Akinmoyede, told newsmen he has provided tight security at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), local government areas and Registration Areas in the state; to avoid diversion of sensitive materials for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
Akinmoyede disclosed this at CBN Jos branch when the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hussaini Halilu Pai, briefed newsmen.