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The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organization, APCPCO, has urged members of the Council of State, who are presently meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, to put national interest above selfish and other narrow considerations.
Reacting to the heightened fears of election postponement in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign, Malam Garba Shehu, the organization said considering the zeal of Nigerians for change and their passion to vote, there should be no excuse to deny Nigerians the right to exercise their franchise.
The Council of State is the highest advisory body to the president with respect to national population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information, prerogative of mercy, awards of national honours, INEC, and other bodies.
Its membership, according to Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, includes the President, Vice President, all former Presidents, Head of Governments, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors of the States and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Mr. Shehu said with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which is constitutionally empowered to conduct elections saying it is ready, there is no basis to contemplate on the grounds of politically expedient excuses.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission is the custodian of the electoral process and should therefore be given a free hand to conduct the 2015 general elections in line with the laws of the land”, he said.
Warning that postponement of election is a serious national issue, Mr. Shehu advised members of the Council of State to vote according to their conscience when the issue of election postponement comes up for consideration.
He also reminded members of the Council of State that their honour and integrity are at stake, and therefore, they must weigh the implications of election postponement.
The APCPCO said the incredible enthusiasm with which Nigerians are ready to vote during the February general elections should not be dampened and ruined by any idea of election postponement to serve expedient political objectives.
Mr. Shehu said, “As the last count all stakeholders have committed to the conduct of the general election as scheduled. INEC had expressed its preparedness, the military and police have committed to providing adequate security and even the PDP says it is prepared for the election.
“From all indications the only person who is not prepared for the election appears to be President Jonathan who has seen defeat staring him in the face and is pulling all the strings to re-enact the June 12, 1993 scenario”.