Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the postponement
of the Edo State governorship election by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) as a very bad signal and beginning of the
end for democracy in Nigeria, adding that; “it is obvious that the All
Progressives Congress (APC) feared that it can’t win the election and
is ready to employ whatever crude means to subvert the wish of the
people.”
The governor, who said he was alarmed by the APC government of
President Mohammadu Buhari’s use of security agencies to arm-twist
democratic process said; “I warned Nigerians not to elect Buhari
because he lacked capacity mentally, morally and intellectually to
superintend over any civilised society, now we are all seeing the
results. Our economy is in recession and democracy is also in
recession!”
In a statement on Thursday, signed by his Special Assistant on Public
Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said INEC
knew that it was not going to conduct the election on Saturday as
scheduled but opted to deceive Nigerians.
He said; “Apart from the security agencies that they instructed not to
provide security for the election, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was
under instruction since yesterday (Wednesday) not to release electoral
materials to INEC.”
“It was just a game by the APC-led federal government to frustrate the
people of Edo State from kick-starting the journey of changing the APC
one-chance change in Nigeria, but they should realise that the power
of the people will always be greater than the power of those in power.
“How can you postpone an election less than 48 hours to the scheduled
date? What manner of security concern could prevent an election in
just one State when elections were held in Northeast States that are
confronted by Boko Haram insurgents?
“Obviously, this is a sign of what to come in 2019 and Nigerians
should not be amazed if in 2019, they tell us that elections cannot be
conducted.
“This is sad! It is a sad commentary for democracy in Nigeria and I
only hope this Buhari’s APC government will not collapse democracy in
this country,” the governor said.
While calling on the people of Edo State to remain steadfast in their
resolve to vote out the APC government, which has become a government
of hunger, poverty, job loss, economic and political recession,
insecurity and unprecedented sufferings, Governor Fayose said; “Let
them keep postponing their evil day, Edo people should just be
vigilant and wait patiently for that day that they will use their
votes to change the APC one-chance change.”
