Connect with us

Politics

POLLS SHIFT: NANS suspends protest, withdraws call for Yakubu’s resignation

Published

on

Paucity of funds may affect conduct of Bayelsa, Kogi polls - INEC

The National Association of Nigerian Students has suspended its anticipated nationwide protest over the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections which was slated for Monday, February 18. This decision was revealed by the spokesperson of the association, Azeez Adeyemi.

In a statement by the spokesperson, he pointed out that the decision to withdraw the protest was issued based on an alleged plan by unknown politicians to take-over the protest as the reason for “standing-down” the protest

“I must say here, after going through all information in the public domain about the postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections, we have obviously seen that, there is the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob in the hullabaloo.

“It is based on these premise, that we want to emphatically say that NANS is not a tool to settle a political issue. We say with utmost sincerity and seriousness of mind that we are not cowards and he who runs away from a fight, lives to fight another day” he explained.

Meanwhile, the association has also reacted to the call for the resignation of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over election postponement, describing it as unfair and something to be frowned upon. This came in shortly before the body’s proposed decision to embark on a protest.

Read also: Disaster awaits Nigeria, unless we’re on the ballot on Saturday– Rivers APC

In a statement issued on Monday by NANS’ National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Bestman Okereafor, the association considered the decision made by INEC to postpone the elections to be in the best interest of Nigerians in defence of its democracy.

“Even though we frown at the manner and timing of the announcement of the postponement, we still consider the decision to be in the best interest of Nigerians,” Okereafor said.

By Todimu Ogunade…

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now