Lagos, Nigeria - The Commonwealth Election Observer Group in Nigeria has expressed regret over Sunday's further postponement of the National Assembly poll from Monday (4April) to 9 April. Commenting on the postponement, Chairman of the group, ex-Botswana President Festus Mogae, said in a statement Sunday night: “We have noted the further postponement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the National Assembly elections, and that the presidential elections have also now been postponed. “We note that the announcement follows consultation with the principal stakeholders. We recognise fully that it is the prerogative of Nigeria’s electoral authorities to make changes to the electoral timetable.

“We believe, nevertheless, that such repeated and last-minute changes are regrettable and do not reflect positively on the state of preparedness of INEC.”

INEC cancelled the National Assembly poll midway Saturday and postponed it till Monday due to massive logistic failure.

But after consulting with party officials Sunday, the party again shifted the National Assembly poll to Saturday, 9 April; the Presidential election from 9 April to 16 April, and the Governorship/State Assembly poll from 16 April to 26 April.

Pana 04/04/2011