Election postponement doesn’t confer advantage on us – PDP

By Samuel Ogidan
Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reacted to the postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that “it does not confers advantage” on the party or its candidates.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the postponement was not “set back to the nation’s democracy.”
It said: “In the last few days pursuant to speculations about the shifting of the dates of the general elections, the PDP had restated its readiness for the polls and continued with our rallies whilst directing all our candidates to go on with their campaigns as only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the powers to take decision on the matter.
“Last night, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, announced the postponement of the national and state elections to March 28 and April 11, 2015 respectively, relying as he said on the powers of the Commission as provided by section 26 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
“The INEC Chairman had cited an advisory from security forces that they are unable to provide adequate security for the election at the earlier scheduled dates due to the on-going anti-insurgency operations in the North-east part of the country.”
PDP said the postponement had not come without attendant cost, adding: “This announcement has not come without the attendant cost of time and great expense to our party and candidates nationwide. However, on account of the reasons adduced by the security forces and INEC, we believe that this shift, which is still within the constitutionally allowed period, can be accommodated.”