The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had with less than six hours to the commencement of voting in the presidential and national assembly elections on February 16 announced the postponement of the exercise.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met on Friday, 15th February 2019 and reviewed its preparations for the 2019 general elections scheduled for Saturday, 16th February 2019.
“Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible,” said INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Many Nigerians who were taken unawares by the development took to the social media to express their views.
Here are some of their reactions
A Twitter user, @ikechukwu887 said “the INEC Chairman gave no logical reason to postpone the election.
“A Logistical nightmare? We haven’t learnt from history in this country. This has taken us to the stone age. The INEC chairman, gave no logical reasons to balance our psyche; which means he saw this coming.”
Lucky John Osagie: Only in Nigeria will election be postponed on election day.
Tola Gem Omojuwa: We have heard! Thanks to them for the disappointment. It shows their incompetence!
Edobor Okao: This is a shame on our government and INEC. The Nation as a whole had four (04) good years to plan for this day. When will we ever get things right in this beloved country?
Gbolahan Oshinowo: Indirectly malami. Letter has been honored. Even Governorship election postponed. I won’t be surprise what you will hear next about Zamfara state now. Nigeria is like Nollywood film.
@Adm4bn: Buhari is not ready for a free and fair election…..someone should tell the tyrant that this is general election and not Osun or Ekiti rigging field….. He’s(Buhari) postponing to frustrate the foreign observers……old style….Nigeria must decide #NigeriaDecides2019
@GbtMascotex: This INEC is a useless commission. After taking four years to prepare for an election and just this morning you are coming up with a trashy, stinking, and unashamed announcement of the postponement. Nigeria is a failed country.
Ikusika Oluwaseyi @Seyikan15: High level of incompetence and a show of shame on the part of INEC,…..The whole world is watching
Samuel Ederehor @SamuelEderehor: It’s a national disgrace.
Pretty Nija @JamesOkene: You must return my flight money. This is unacceptable, imagine the loses Nigerians has gone through, all those that travelled to vote with their hard earned resources. Sad day! #NigeriaDesides2019
Kiki @kikieee_: What happens to all the Nigerians that travelled to vote? Or the corps members sleeping in terrible conditions tonight 😢 #NigeriaDesides2019
kenny Okolugbo @kennyokolugbo: #NigeriaDesides2019 INEC can’t be postponing Presidential & National Assembly election on the morning of it Never-happened in history of this Country. We all knew dates of d election about 2 years ago. Yet they talk of logistics 👎 public holidays already declared on Friday!
Bello Shagari @Belshagy: But nothing is more disappointing and disheartening that the postponement of the election on the day of the election.
You @basealkaline: Dear Commissioner, you had one job which is to conduct free and fair election and you had 4 years to prepared for it and you failed. If you’re an honorable enough I did expect you to honorably resign and let who’s capable enough to lead the commission. #NigeriaDesides2019
Iliya Sam: There are people either in government or in opposition working in cohort with some unpatriotic elements in INEC to rig the election and this is a shame. I pray that the government investigate this scandal and make Scape goats out of this elements. This is totally not acceptable in any democratic set up. Why always Nigeria?
President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, Bashir Ahmad: Kai INEC! A lot of people traveled to cast their vote today, some for many hours, some from abroad, but you did such a thing just few hours to Election, haba, you could have taken this decision since Thursday or even early.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande: Mr. President was already in Daura in Katsina State and the VP already in Lagos to vote this morning before the postponement just announced by INEC. This is truly disappointing, but the march to the Next Level continues. Nigeria will prevail.
Arukaino Umukoro @rukaino: It is false for anyone to claim that postponement of the 2019 elections by @inecnigeria is teleguided. When INEC is an independent body that conducts its duties without interference from the FG #NigeriaDecides #NigeriaDecides2019
Declan Ekenna @chiedoziedeclan: Just cancelling an election 5 Hours to take off is the height of incompetency. What happens to materials already sent out? When you started inconclusive elections up and down; we knew you don’t have capacity to conduct National Elections. Shame to INEC
@ezloui: I don’t know if I should be sad or happy about the postponement of tomorrow’s elections, all I gotta for inec is with, many people traveled long hours just to go and vote because of your ridiculous laws that you have to vote in your unit and not anywhere.
Quadri Ibrahim EniObanke @ieniobanke: @inecnigeria frustrated many people from getting the PVC. Many people already traveled to there villages and gbam INEC announced the postponement of election just few hours to the election, I hope this people won’t be frustrated from voting.#NigeriaDecides2019
Daniel Adeniyi @MrDanielAdeniyi: Postponing the election on its scheduled day without an apology is the height of irresponsibility by INEC. Imagine how many Nigerians travelled to exercise their franchise!!!
Great @iamGreat_Femi: It’s a show of shame that we have to go through this mess again. INEC & APC are definitely a menace to our hard earned democracy. 4 years after, we are back to square one, @inecnigeria can’t even plan for a credible election to hold and just at the eleventh hour..
Saadah M: So who will resign? Who will be fired? Who will be held responsible for this epic embarrassment to the country? We have international observers here already. We have families who travelled since Thurs. Some borrowed money…this must not just go quietly as usual.
Abba Kalgo: If the INEC chairman has any modicum of honour, decency or pride, he would immediately tender his resignation from that office. No! his resignation should be demanded or better yet, he should be suspended from that office.
