Dr Felix Akpan, a Lecturer with University of Calabar (UNICAL), on Sunday, hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for rescheduling the nation’s general elections.
Akpan, of Political Science Department, UNICAL, told 247ureports.com in an interview in Calabar that the rescheduling of the polls would enable security agencies to restore peace in the North Eastern part of the country.
INEC had on Saturday announced the rescheduling of the general elections from Feb. 14 and Feb. 28 to March 28 and April 11, 2015, citing advice from security agencies.
The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, announced the new dates in a late night news conference in Abuja.
Jega said the Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier slated for Feb. 14 would now hold on March 28, while governorship and House of Assembly polls previously scheduled for Feb. 28 would now hold on April 11.
The don, therefore, said the postponement would give room for majority of Nigerians to exercise their franchise as people who were unable to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would now be able to do so.
He said “Nigeria is a country where democracy is practiced in high esteem; there is need to provide adequate security for the electorate during and after the elections.
“If we must get it right in this country, we need to take security issues very seriously because no meaningful development can take place in crisis-prone areas.’’
Another lecturer at Law Faculty of the same institution, Philemon Asu, told 247ureports.com that “INEC did what was necessary in the interest of the nation.’’
Asu, who condemned the crisis in parts of North East, said it was important to restore the lost glory of those affected areas in order to allow the people to exercise their franchise.
He said “many Nigerians have already moved their families abroad for safety because of the insecurity in some parts of the country.
“If INEC must conduct elections in areas seized by Boko Haram, then it must be under tight security. They need to collaborate with security agencies to achieve this.’’
He then urged security agencies not to relent in ensuring that there was absolute peace in the affected areas of North East before the rescheduled election dates.
He also urged Nigerians to support the military with prayers and by giving them useful information that would help them to conquer the Boko Haram.
He called on INEC to collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in sensitising prospective voters on the need to collect their PVCs.
Mr Maurice Etim, a chieftain of Labour Party (LP) in Cross River, also lauded the postponement, saying it would give his party more time to campaign and build more political structures.
He advised supporters of the party who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so and remain calm and steadfast in the party.
Some youths, who also spoke to NAN on the development, urged the Federal Government to equip the army with sophisticated arms to help them to conquer the Boko Haram sect.
