The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari, said on Sunday that neither he nor his party would tolerate any further postponement of the 2015 general elections. Mr. Buhari, a former military ruler, stated this in reaction to the postponement of the general elections by the electoral commission, INEC.
“I wish to state strongly that our party will not tolerate any further interference with the electoral process,” the opposition leader said. “The rescheduled elections of March 28th and April 11th, 2015 must be sacrosanct.”
Mr. Buhari also asked his supporters to take advantage of the postponement to further mobilise support among Nigerians. He accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of engineering the postponement to avoid defeat; but appealed for calm among his supporters.
“I wish to appeal for utmost restraint and calm by all Nigerians, especially the teeming supporters of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. It is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it has had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence of INEC has been gravely compromised,” he said.
Mr. Buhari said as a Nigerian and a presidential candidate in the elections, he shares in the disappointment and frustration of the decision.
“However, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the democratic process. Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of terrorists”.
“Any act of violence can only complicate the security challenges in the country and provide further justification to those who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face of certain defeat at the polls”.
“If anything, this postponement should strengthen our resolve and commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and social collapse from this desperate band,” he said.
Mr. Buhari’s party, the APC toed similar line when its National Chairman, John Oyegun, issued a statement shortly after the postponement was announced. Mr. Oyegun lamented the shift, but also called on the party’s supporters to remain calm.
“…though what has happened is highly provocative,” the party leader said, “I strongly appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence and any activity which will compound this unfortunate development. We must not fall into this obvious trap. Change we must. They can only delay it; No one can stop it,” he said.