The senator representing Nasarawa South in the National Assembly, Solomon Adokwe, has said that the last minute postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was part of the plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to make sure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had no funds to mobilise logistics to its members and agents ahead of the presidential election.
He told journalists in Lafia yesterday that the Commission’s action was a calculated attempt on the opposition party.
Senator Adokwe is running for the fourth time to represent Nasarawa South, contesting against the APC candidate and incumbent governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
He said: “The integrity and credibility of INEC to conduct free and fair elections is questionable.
“Most states in Nigeria, including Nasarawa State, were earmarked to frustrate the process so that they have staggered election. I believe it is God that is working; now you have the whole week to prepare and address all the challenges, no excuses any more.
“The APC are quick at saying it was done in the past. Even if you say Jonathan did it, the Commission under Jonathan gave two weeks notice, but this INEC gave just few hours notice when we have already used our little resource to mobilise logistics for the process.
“They did that to frustrate PDP. It was a calculated attempt at making sure that PDP is broke since they can easily go back to Central Bank to get funds.
“It is an attempt to make sure we are crippled and broke, but they will be shocked at the resilience of PDP; we are going to bounce back right into their faces.”
Despite the frustration, Adokwe said that his supporters were fully prepared for the election, asserting that the postponement would not deter them from trooping out next Saturday to cast their votes for him.
The candidate expressed disappointment with the action of the commission, stating that since the advent of democracy in Nigeria, this was the first Commission to give a long period notice in preparation for an election.
“They released their timetable eight months ago and commenced the process immediately. Their actions have raised a lot of room for one not to trust them. You cannot look at a Commission that is speaking from both sides of the mouth and believe that they will do the right thing,” he said.