The Independent National Electoral Commission on Election Day, announced the postponement of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections by one week. Chairman of the electoral agency, Yakubu Mahmoud stated the reason for this action as of a logistical nature.

The Elections are now scheduled to hold 23rd February, 2019 for the Presidential and National Assembly while the Governorship, State House of Assembly and the FCT Area Council Elections is billed for 9th March, 2019.

This decision does not seem to sit well with a lot of stakeholders including several civil society actors.

The ruling party: The All Progressives Congress condemned the announcement by INEC, describing it as a “great disappointment and disillusionment”.

The opposition: The Peoples Democratic Party accused INEC of conniving with the ruling party to postpone the polls. “APC in connivance with INEC have been trying all options including but not limited to burning down INEC offices in some states and destroying of electoral materials to create artificial problems upon which to stand for their dubious act,” wrote PDP chairman, Uche Secondus in a statement.

President Buhari: President Buhari expressed deep disappointment in the cancellation in a thread of tweets. However, he took a different tone from his party. He called Nigerians to rally around INEC. “I urge all political stakeholders & Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.”

Atiku Abubakar: The opposition candidate accused INEC of plotting with the Buhari administration to orchestrate the postponement. “The Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date.” He called on Nigerians to come out en masse to vote on the rescheduled date.

Civil Society: The Situation Room, a gathering of Nigerian civil society actors called on INEC to be more transparent. The group said the electoral agency’s decision was shocking to them. “Against the background of assurances given by INEC on its preparedness, this current situation comes to us as a disappointment,” said Clement Nwankwo, the convener of the group.