A CIVIL society group and an accredited observer group for the 2023 general election, Vote Count Campaign Organization has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to as a matter of national interest and credibility of the elections, postpone it.
Vote Count Campaign while decrying statements made by INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmud and the Resident Electoral Commissioner for FCT that the Commission is having issues with availability of funds ten days to the elections, said the feasibility of holding a free, fair and credible elections come 25th February and 11th March is bleak with such statements.
The Organisation while faulting the timing of the currency swap exercise said any attempt to go ahead with the elections aside creating credibility issues, will create serious security issues in the country especially if there is massive vote buying.
“With the sufferings Nigerians are going through today it will be very bad to go ahead with the elections. There is poverty in the land and people are wailing. Do you think people will not be easily enticed to sell their votes in such circumstances?
“The elections must be postponed if we really want a successful transition from President Muhammadu Buhari and mind you, this is a very competitive election and we must not allow INEC make a serious mistake of going ahead with the elections.”
The statement, which was signed by the National President of the organisation Amb Emmanuel Nkweke also called on all the political parties to support it’s call for shifting of the polls.
“All indices supports our call for shifting of the polls and we strongly believe that those vested with advising Mr President on the desirability of this call will advise him right and as a man with a listening ear, who is committed to credible elections come February and March will heed the call hopefully before the new date, these issues concerning currency swap and cashless policy, would have been sorted out,” the statement concluded.
