February Polls: APC Campaign, Atiku Condemn Delay Plot

Source: thewillnigeria.com

… Say It's An Attempt To Scuttle Democracy
BEVERLY HILLS, January 22, (THEWILL) – The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) said on Thursday that it was opposed to the alleged plot by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to postpone February's general elections as is currently being canvassed by the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

In a statement signed in Abuja by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the APC Campaign said such a proposal as being contemplated is ill-advised.

“We smelt the plot that this unpopular PDP Federal Government would do anything to stay put in power, elongation of term had always been on the President's agenda; no wonder he and his party want the election delayed or cancelled outright to effect and extension of their lackluster administration,” the statement said.

According to the APC Campaign, “Gone were the days when a few persons can hold the destiny of our dear nation to ransom. In fact, Nigerians would have called for an early election than February, if our political system is parliamentary.

“For Jonathan's government is worse than a rotten egg. It's smelly, full of sleaze, neck deep in corruption and uncaring. Two vital organs of government have downed tools for nearly two months – the health and judicial sectors and he does not give a damn!

“The nation's currency (naira) is daily plummeting in value, the oil sector in virtual comatose, the economy runs on deficit, unemployment skyrocketing, insecurity on the loose, decaying infrastructure and a loss of sound national image. Nigerians have never had it so bad. Hence, any delay or postponement of the elections amounts to testing the patience of the people.

“We are all tired of a corrupt government, one full of ineptitude, incompetence and lack of ideas. Nobody can scuttle our hard-earned democracy in Nigeria.”

The warning from the APC Campaign came on a day the former Vice President and APC chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, also added his voice to the concern over the alleged plot, warning that the Federal Government should not tinker with elections timelines.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his media office, advised that the general elections should hold as scheduled in February, warning the Federal Government must not tinker with the option of postponing the timelines for the elections.

“Yes, we have a problem with the distribution of PVCs but the position of my party, the APC, is that since we have a voters' register then that should be used in conducting the elections.

“I also believe there is enough time between now and the elections to issue everyone with their PVCs,” Atiku said shortly on arrival to the country at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after a medical vacation trip.

He described the call by the National Security Adviser, Dasuki, for a postponement of the elections as scheduled next month, as uncalled for, saying it portends a dangerous signal about the intentions of the Federal Government to conduct a free, fair and credible poll in February.

According to Atiku, “The duty of participating in the process of change which our great party, the APC, is committed to supersedes every other consideration. For me, participating in this campaign is a call to national duty.

“It is a duty which we cannot afford to compromise upon and we must press into the consciousness of those at the helms of affairs that it is morally dubious and socially unacceptable to extend the dates of the elections by a single day from the scheduled timelines.”