A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Chief Ebenezer Babatope on Saturday described the rescheduling of the general elections as unfortunate.
Babatope expressed the view in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in reaction to the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the polls.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said after an emergency meeting of the Commission late on Friday that the Presidential and National Assembly elections fixed for Saturday had been shifted to Saturday, Feb. 23.
Reacting Babatope faulted INEC ‘s explanation for the shift, saying it was not convincing.
He said he believed that INEC had a different motive for rescheduling the elections.
The PDP Chieftain, a former Minister of Transport, said the Commission had always reiterated its readiness to conduct the polls, adding that it was disappointing the elections were shifted few hours to the commencement of the exercise.
“INEC has questions to answer on the postponement. They owe Nigerians an explanation on the real reason for the shift.
“The explanation the Commission gave is not just convincing. You know there were challenges and you kept on saying, you are ready, you are ready.
“Just when Nigerians were about keeping a date with history with some travelling to their home states and villages to vote, you suddenly announced a shift on election eve.
“It is unfortunate, and I believe the facts will soon emerge on the real reason for the shift,”, Babatope said.
He, however, urged Nigerians to keep calm on the development and not be discouraged.
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