As
reactions continue to trail the postponement of general elections by
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Trade Union
Congress (TUC) on Sunday in Abuja, said that the move was in the best
interest of Nigerians and the country as a whole.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahuri Jega citing security reasons, had on
Saturday announced the postponement of the general elections by six
weeks following a security report which indicated that security agencies
would be pre-occupied with counter-insurgency operations in the
northeast within the period and therefore, cannot afford to be
distracted by elections.
In effect, the National Assembly and Presidential elections earlier
scheduled for Feb. 14 has been shifted to March 28, while Governorship
and Houses of Assembly polls slated for Feb. 28 has been postponed to
April 11.
However, refusing to join the bandwagon of those who have rejected
the postponement, TUC president, Bobboi Kaigama, said the entire
scenario from INEC was the right step in the right direction.
“We will advise strongly that the security forces stand on their commitment tom support the new dates.
“But after six weeks, another unexpected problem should not come up,
if that happens, then their credibility will be put to question”, he
said.
Kaigama called on INEC to seize the opportunity of the postponement
to ensure that the 34 per cent of Nigerians who had not collected their
PVCs were able to do so even as he enjoined Nigerians to exercise
patience with the commission and support a peaceful and credible
elections.
Mr. Kaigama affirmed that TUC as a group would support INEC and would give necessary collaboration if need be.
