Screenshot of INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announcing the postponement of the Nigerian General Elections on February 16, 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Nigerians woke up on Saturday, February 16, to news that presidential elections will no longer be held as scheduled for that day.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that that the presidential and national assembly elections will now be held on February 23, one week later, while the governorship and state house of assembly will be held on March 9. The electoral commission has halted the elections due to its inability to implement [1] “logistics and operational plans” ahead of the elections.
Breaking News: The #NigeriaDecides2019 [2] Elections now to hold on; 23rd February, 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly while the Governorship, State House of Assembly and the FCT Area Council Elections is to hold on 9th March, 2019. pic.twitter.com/6zhvBLQe2a [3]
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) February 16, 2019 [4]
The 2015 presidential elections were delayed for six weeks [5] over security challenges. However, this is the first time in Nigeria's history that an election will be canceled less than five hours before the commencement of polls.
Fears of a possible postponement
There had been unconfirmed fears that the elections might be postponed. However, in September last year, INEC denied having such plans [6]. Similarly, on January 19, the head of commission Professor Mahmood Yakubu during a video interview [7] stated that “we started this long ago and we have gone ahead with our preparations … there's no possibility of a postponement.”
#ThrowBack [8]
The 2 times @osasuigbinedion [9] asked @INECNigeria [10] Chairman if the elections would be postponed.
Watch his response
Full interview available on our website https://t.co/gmgkKRwWUA [11]#NigeriaDecides2019 [2] #INEC [12] pic.twitter.com/sQFu80kXv2 [13]
— The Osasu Show (TOS) (@TheOsasuShow) February 16, 2019 [14]
These fears persisted until the eve of the elections on social media. But Tolu Ogunlesi, head of digital media in the presidency, dismissively branded it as propaganda from the opposition.
#NigeriaDecides2019 [2] going on as planned tomorrow. Don’t listen to any #DubaiStrategyOfLies [15] peddling gist of a postponement. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) February 15, 2019 [16]
What went wrong?
The coordination of the election by the electoral commission encountered many challenges. Less than two weeks before the elections, there were fire outbreaks in INEC offices [17] in Plateau, Abia, and Anambra [18] States, which destroyed electoral materials like uncollected Permanent Voters Cards [19], smart card readers [18] and ballot papers.
Also, on the eve of the elections in Kaduna State on February 15, 66 people [20] — including 22 children and 12 women — were allegedly killed by unknown gunmen. These killings have not yet been independently verified.
This led credence to the rumour that elections may be deferred to a later date in affected states.
Staggering the elections is a recipe for disaster! INEC must resist any attempt to get it conduct elections in a few states tomo. Elections must be conducted in every part of Nigeria whatever it takes. Burning Card Readers is just a strategy.
— Mazi Chima Amadi Ph.D (@AMADICHIMA) February 15, 2019 [21]
WhatsApp broadcast and group messages, [22] largely adopted by political parties during this election to win support, aggravated this apprehension. These social media groups have stoked rumours and spread misinformation and disinformation.
Main opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party described the cancellation [23] as “obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.” Abubakar stated:
The Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date.
On the other hand, the ruling party All Progressive Congress condemned [24] the “tardiness of the electoral umpire” and also insinuated that INEC had “orchestrated” the postponement “in collusion with the main opposition, the PDP.”
Nigerians react!
Nigerian netizens have reacted strongly against the last minute rescheduling of the presidential polls by INEC.
“Excuses don't cut it!”
Excuses do not cut it. This isn't the first time general elections are being held in Nigeria. INEC failed to do its job, of providing the required logistics support for the process. I have never heard of election postponement, barely 5 hours to the opening of ballots. SHAMEFUL!!
— dipo (@oladipo112) February 16, 2019 [25]
Why wait till the last minute?
I'm trying really hard to be positive about this but I don't know how I'm going to manage it.
Why on earth would elections be postponed with just a couple of hours left? At what point did they realise that they had issues and why did they wait until the last minute?
— Adérìnsólá Abíólá (@RinsolaAbiola) February 16, 2019 [26]
Waste of resources
Waste of time and resources for candidates, supporters, traveling voters, and even the government itself.
— ‘Kayode Adegbola (@kayodea) February 16, 2019 [27]
INEC lacked the courtesy to even apologize
Would it have killed the person who drafted that @inecnigeria [10] letter to add “The Commission understands that this decision has been announced rather late and sincerely apologizes to all voters and election stakeholders for any inconvenience caused” at the end?
— Amara Nwankpa (@Nwankpa_A) February 16, 2019 [28]
Wicked!
This is the most wicked and barbaric evil action against the Nigerian people.
Budget was spent
International observers arrived Nigeria
People left their business and travelled so as to vote!!
Youth corpers slept in the cold etc
We are disappointed in #INEC [12] #NigeraDecides2019 [29] pic.twitter.com/uPMvWJtDLJ [30]— Bose Tinubu (@BoseTinubu) February 16, 2019 [31]
Questions for INEC
Questions for @inecnigeria [10]
1. What are the logistical issues?
2. Which states where affected?
3. What will happen to sensitive ballot material already deployed?
4. Who guarantees safety & sanctity of ballot material already distributed? 5. What is cost of postponement?— Ayisha Osori (@Naijavote) February 16, 2019 [32]
INEC is not saying the truth!
This is preposterous. You had years to plan for this. We are not seeing the truth.
— Engr. Blaise Aboh ? (@AimLEGEND_) February 16, 2019 [33]
Apathy is not an option. We'll vote next week!
This is exactly what they want. They already planned to use voters apathy as a weapon, but it won't work. I drove over 2hrs to come and vote, next Friday am doing it again. This incompetent government must be rid off. #BuhariMustGo [34] #NigeriaDecides2019 [2] #AtikuOurPresident [35] #Nigeria [36]
— Ọmọ Nìjíríà gidi (@parpeshe) February 16, 2019 [37]
Nigeria's electoral commission left many questions unanswered. The decision spiked tensions and casts doubt on the credibility of the presidential elections. It also reinforces the need for a genuinely independent electoral commission [38]. Until INEC is completely weaned from executive manipulation and interference, election postponements will continue to happen in Nigeria.