Gyang Bere, Jos and Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has urged citizens to remain calm and peaceful and not lose interest in the electoral process.
In his reaction to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday, the governor implored the people to turn out in a large number on Saturday.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, said: “Let all citizens of the State of Osun remain calm and peaceful; in spite of the disappointment of the one-week postponement of the general election.
“I implore our people not to lose interest in the electoral process as a result of this temporary setback. All eligible voters should not be deterred but turn out en masse on February 23 and March 9 to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.
“We should continue to have confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the electoral agency’s ability to conduct credible, free, fair and transparent elections as promised by its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.”
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau State Campaign Council has described the postponement as dethronement of the will of Nigerians.
State PDP Chairman, Damishi Sango in a statement, yesterday, said the postponement was clear evidence that the PDP will win the election.
“APC is literally scared of a PDP victory-and will do everything to delay it. The postponement of the polls was the dethronement of the will of Nigerians,” he said.
In a related development, PDP accused INEC in the Ekiti State of disparities in the materials brought from Abuja.
The state chapter said the materials meant for the conduct of presidential and senatorial elections did not get to the state until the wee hours of Saturday.
INEC Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Taiwo Gbadegesin, dismissed PDP claims and insisted that all the sensitive materials distributed have been withdrawn and kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s office in Ado Ekiti, the state capita