Postponement of elections targeted at weakening opposition, says SDP leaders

LEADERS of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have alleged that the Eleventh-hour postponement of the general election last Saturday was targeted at weakening the opposition parties.

Rising from an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee of the party held in Abuja, the leaders said they were convinced that it was a well-hatched plot to put the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in good stead for the rescheduled polls.

This was part of the observations contained in a five-point resolution of the apex organ of the party made available to Tribune Online, by SDP national chairman, Chief Supo Shonibare.

“We have very strong suspicions that this postponement is a carefully conceived and hatched plan to deplete the logistical resources of the Opposition in order to aid the electoral fortunes of the APC,” the leaders asserted.

They expressed shock that the election should be postponed despite the long period of preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This seemingly wanton and arbitrary postponement was truly mind-numbing to most Nigerians, in the light of the privations they have had to go through to prepare for today.

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“To mention a few consequences of the preparations: many schools had to close down temporarily; many employers had to give their staff time off; several offices have suffered the loss of revenue; and many have travelled a long distance, both locally and internationally.

“The effect of the cancellation and postponement of today’s poll is that the miseries of the electorate will be increased and compounded.

“We in SDP do agree that our democracy is worth fighting and sacrificing for. Nevertheless, our sacrifices should not be trifled with, rendered meaningless or made to appear childish.

“In the light of the postponement, the NWC of our party held an emergency meeting this morning and comments as follows:

“We are greatly disappointed at the unpreparedness admitted by INEC and the incompetence communicated by this 11th-hour cancellation of today’s poll;

“We are worried that the highly sensitive electoral material already released may be used by unscrupulous persons who wish to steal the mandate of our teeming electorate.

“We truly hope that INEC will not allow itself to be manipulated by such unpatriotic elements or collaborate with any group, no matter how highly placed, to destroy the integrity of the postponed elections.

“We condemn the attacks on INEC offices and the destruction of INEC electoral materials in areas that are the stronghold of the main, consensus, opposition presidential Candidate;

“The APC was very vocal four years ago in its claim that postponements (at least, at that time, not within a very few hours to the start of the Poll) were orchestrated to assist the then ruling party.

“It appears that the APC has very concrete plans to put their thoughts four years ago into action to subvert the strong Opposition challenge of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“We have very strong suspicions that this postponement is a carefully conceived and hatched plan to deplete the logistical resources of the Opposition in order to aid the electoral fortunes of the APC.

“We ask the teeming PVC holding masses of Nigeria to not allow themselves to be discouraged or disenfranchised by the shenanigans of any group. Nigeria is our country and it will become whatever we will it to become. Each and every one of us owes a duty to ourselves, our families and our unborn generations to go out to vote your conscience.”