STATEMENT BY DIGITAL PEOPLE’S EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS BY INEC

  • The Digital People’s Empowerment Initiative, a support Group to the Presidential campaign of the Atiku/Obi 2019 presidential election express a great disappointment on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the postponement of the Presidential/National Assembly Election on Saturday 16th February, 2019 to Saturday 23rd February, 2019.

  • It is painful and barbaric to postpone a national election just 5 hours to the commencement of polls which sends suspicious signals to Nigerians, especially to the voters that the Electoral umpire has hidden agenda targeted at favouring the ruling party at the disadvantage of the opposition parties.

  • The integrity of INEC in conducting a free and fair election is questionable with this unpopular decision.

  • The multiplying effects in economic, psychological, safety, health and others are devastating and regressive to the development of our great country.

  • We call on INEC to retrace its steps and ensure that the ‘T’s’ are crossed and the ‘I’s’ are dotted in ensuring that they must not fail Nigerians and the international community for the Nigerian electorate to exercise their franchise this Saturday.

  • We appeal to Nigerians to be calm and law abiding.

  • We urge the 84 millions Nigerian voters not to be discouraged but to be re-energised and come out in their millions to exercise their voting rights.

  • We urge the electorate to cast their vote wisely for Atiku/Obi in the Saturday presidential election for Nigeria to be saved from retrogression and uncertain future.

  • We equally condemn in strong terms the comment by Mr President at the emergency caucus meeting of the APC convened shortly after announcement of the postponement of the elections which connote an Order to the security agencies to deal brutally with intending snatchers of ballot papers/boxes. The act of snatching of ballot papers and boxes is disapproved by us in any disguise; but for the electoral offenders to pay with their lives is equally disapproved. Our electoral act is sufficient in tackling electoral offences and defaulters. We therefore appeal to Mr. President to be patriotic and see all Nigerians as his children and as such, advocate a free, fair and credible elections. This elections will come and go but Nigeria will remain.

  • We therefore appeal to Nigerians especially those who travelled to their various states to perform their civic responsibilities to remain calm and endure the pains with a view that the INEC will make Nigerians smile at the end of the exercise by conducting a transparent elections and announce the rightful winner without subverting the will of the people under any disguise or influence.

  • Long live Atiku/Obi, long live The People’s Democratic Party, Nigeria.

 

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Niyi Maraiyesa
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Barrister Maxwell Alaeto
National secretary