The Chairman of Atiku/Obi Campaign Council in Anambra State, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, at the weekend called on Nigerians to overlook every discomfort posed by the sudden postponement of the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections and still turn out en masse to vote this Saturday.

He said that one week sacrifice to get the nation working in the right direction is not too much of a sacrifice to make for the right purpose.

His words: “I call on all Nigerians to consider that if you don’t go out to vote for the right person, the wrong person will be voted in. Make the one week sacrifice to vote for the right person so as not to suffer the consequences for another four years.”

The PDP stalwart, however, regretted the wide economic implications and opportunity cost caused by the postponement, adding that four years was enough time for INEC to prepare for the election, adding that the postponement was a systemic failure on the part of electoral umpire.

Obaze, who was the candidate of the PDP during the 2017 governorship election in Anambra State, urged INEC to accept responsibility and apologise for causing so much frustration to Nigerians.

He enjoined the electorate, especially those who had travelled long distances to perform their civic duty, to make further sacrifices and ensure that their voices are heard through the ballot on the rescheduled dates.

Responding to question on the impression created by Nigeria before the international community as a result of the sudden postponement of election, the retired United Nations diplomat described it as a total public relations disaster for the country.

According to him, “The situation is embarrassing, especially when it is considered against the background of the assurances given by the Head of State in his national broadcast some days earlier and the assurances INEC continued to give even just few hours before the postponement was officially announced.

“We give some leeway to INEC and appreciate the enormity of challenges they faced, but what they have done, wittingly or unwittingly, is to shift the goalpost in the middle of the game. It is not acceptable,” he added.

On the safety of sensitive materials that have already been deployed, Obaze said: “Our party in Anambra State will meet with the state Resident Electoral Commissioner to inspect those materials, just the way we inspected them when they arrived, to ensure that their sanctity has not been violated. And that should apply across board.”

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