NIGERIANS WAKE TO FIND A POLL DELAYED

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY WAS DELAYED TILL FEBRUARY 23 AFTER THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FACED UNSPECIFIED “CHALLENGES.”

5 hours before the polls were to open, the postponement announcement came.

The top two political parties condemned the last- minute rescheduling.

Voters irked as some went home to cast their ballots

They warned election apathy could follow.

The Opposition party alleged polls postponed to ensure low turnout at polls.

An Opposition party spokesman in Delta state said the poll panel “destroyed the soul of Nigeria.”

The ruling party's presidential campaign council called the delay a “huge disappointment”

Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further anti- democratic acts — OPPOSITION PARTY BACKING ATIKU ABUBAKAR.

We do not want to be forced into a situation of announcing our total loss of confidence in ( the commission) as we know where that would leave our democracy — THE RULING PART SAID.

This was a difficult decision to take but necessary for successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy — MAHMOOD YAKUBU, COMMISSION CHAIRMAN