Accept poll shift in good faith, Jonathan tells stakeholders

Accept poll shift in good faith, Jonathan tells stakeholders

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday appealed to all stakeholders to accept
the shift in the dates of the general elections as announced by the Independent
National Electoral Commission on Saturday in good faith.
He also assured them that despite the change in dates of the elections, he
remained committed to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as the terminal date of his
four-year first term.
Jonathan made his position known in a statement made available to journalists in
Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
The chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had on Saturday announced that the
presidential and National Assembly elections earlier fixed for February 14 would
now hold on March 28 while the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections
earlier scheduled for February 28 had been shifted to April 11.
Jonathan said rather than trading blames and making statements that are capable
of overheating the polity, stakeholders must show understanding and support
INEC.
He called on the international community, civil society and the electorate to
continue to support his administration’s commitment to free, fair and credible
elections.
Justifying the postponement, Jonathan said INEC has a responsibility to conduct
credible elections in which every Nigerian of voting age is afforded the
opportunity to exercise their civic right without any form of hindrance.
The statement read, “Following the adjustment of the dates for the 2015 general
elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission from February 14 and
28 to March 28 and April 11, yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan has
reassured the nation of his commitment to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as the
terminal date of his first term in office.
“He strongly reaffirms that May 29 is, has been, and will remain sacrosanct.
“The President appeals to all stakeholders to accept the adjustment of the
election dates by INEC in good faith, as the electoral body has a responsibility to
conduct credible elections in which every Nigerian of voting age is afforded the
opportunity to exercise their civic right without any form of hindrance.
“President Jonathan believes that this is not a time to trade blames or make
statements that may overheat the polity, but a time to show understanding and
support the electoral commission to conduct the elections successfully.
“It is the President’s understanding that INEC’s decision ought not to generate
acrimony since it acted within its powers under the law and in consultation with
all relevant stakeholders.
“He calls on the international community, civil society and the electorate to
continue to support the administration’s commitment to a free, fair, credible, and
non-violent electoral process.”