Elections Nigeria - Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that despite the logistics hitches that led to the cancellation of the National Assembly election over the weekend, there was still high hope that the Professor Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct a transparent election. The former head of state, who was at the Niger State INEC headquarters in Minna to ascertain the true situation of things over the weekend, told journalists that hope was not yet lost as what happened was mere logistics problem. Asked whether he believed the election this year would be a departure from the past elections that had been criticized by both local and foreign observers, General Abubakar who had monitored elections for African Union AU in some African countries in recent past said, "I have high hope, there is hope".

"Because of some logistic problems which have been addressed, that is why I have come to the state headquarters of INEC to know what is happening and it will be alright," he said.

He said the people of the country should bear with INEC, saying that the commission has been working hard to deliver a transparent election, hence the people needed to be patient with the commission.

In the same vein, the state governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu who spoke through his Director-General Media and Public Affairs, Malam Bala Abdulkadir urged Nigerians to be patient. He called on electorate to turn out en-mass to perform their civil responsibility as they did turn out on Saturday before the election was postponed.

According to him, "We understand the situation with INEC. Since they have postponed the election we can't but comply with the situation. We know it is because of some logistics challenges."

He added, "We therefore, plead with voters to come out en masse to exercise their civic responsibility. We as a state government on our own wish to tell the public that we regret any inconveniences the postponement may have caused them."

Abu Nmodu

Leadership/04/04/2011