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Monday 9 February 2015

We’ll Not Tolerate Further Shift In Election Dates - Buhari


PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, disclosed that his party would not tolerate any further interference with the electoral process, saying that the rescheduled elections of March 28 and April 11 must be sacrosanct.
The APC presidential candidate, at a press briefing in Abuja, was against the backdrop of the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2015 general election by six weeks.

He appealed to his party men and loyalists to exercise utmost restraint and calm.
According to him, “this postponement, which comes on the heels of the bogey of the National Security Adviser (NSA) that half of the registered voters were being disenfranchised, was exposed as a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral process.”
To this end, he said “the PDP administration has now engineered a postponement using the threat that security will not be guaranteed across the length and breadth of Nigeria, because of military engagement in some states in the North-East.
“It is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it has had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence of INEC has been gravely compromised.
“As a Nigerian and presidential candidate in the elections, I share in the disappointment and frustration of this decision.
“This postponement, coming a week to the first election, has raised so many questions, many of which shall be asked in the days ahead.
“However, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the democratic process.
“Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security challenges in the country and provide further justification to those who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face of certain defeat at the polls,” he stated.
Buhari said “if anything, this postponement should strengthen our resolve and commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and social collapse from this desperate band.
“Our desire for change must surpass their desperation to hold on to power at all cost.”
The presidential candidate of APC said “while I share the pains and frustrations of my fellow citizens over this development, my deep faith in the democratic process assures me that this country, with your support, will overcome.
“We must remain resolute and rise above all provocations. We must continue to trust in the entire democratic process and in INEC, which has been brought under so much pressure in the last few days.
“Our trust can only serve to encourage the electoral body to remain steadfast and remain committed to the rule of law.
“Nigeria is definitely greater than any of us, and much more important than our individual ambitions. Before us, there was Nigeria, and long after we are gone, there will still be Nigeria.
“Let us continue to do our part to make it the great country that it should be. We must rescue our dear country. God being on our side, we shall salvage Nigeria together,” he noted.
Those present at the briefing included the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu; former governor of Gombe, Senator Danjuma Goje; Senator Bukola Saraki, APC national chairman, Chief John Odiegie-Oyegun; former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Segun Oni; governor of Rivers State and Director-General of APC presidential campaign Organisation, Mr Rotimi Ameachi; Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, amongst others.

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