Some residents of Benin City in Edo State have expressed shock over the postponement of the general elections by one week by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The respondents told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday that they traveled from their various locations to Benin to exercise their civic responsibility.
Osakwe Igbenigbi, a banker, condemned the development, adding that the situation was capable of discouraging some voters to exercise their franchise.
Igbenigbi said: “INEC had has taken a wrong decision.
“I don’t stay here.
“I live in Lagos.
“After traveling from Lagos, INEC postponed the elections.
“It is bad because it will discourage people from voting.
“I am not sure I will be coming next week again because I can’t travel the distance again.”
Lydia Omoye, a trader, said the postponement of the election was capable of changing the minds of people who truly wanted to vote.
Okoye said: “I came from Lokoja (Kogi State) because of this election.
“I am disappointed and I don’t think I will be able to risk another traveling by next week.”
Another citizen, Dr. Omorogbe Ikponwonsa, a medical doctor, appealed to voters not to be discouraged by the postponement of the elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that INEC postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections to February 23, while the governorship and state assembly elections were also shifted from March 2 to March 9.
In 2015, the presidential election was shifted from February 14 to March 28, while the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for February 28 were shifted to April 11.
NAN.