In celebration of Valentine’s Day, some residents of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, staged a rally to let the Nigerian Government know that the newly fixed dates for the 2015 general election should be left sacrosanct.

Organized by the Nigerians United for Democracy, a coalition of professional associations, civil society organisations and political parties, the protest, witnessed hundreds of protesters who took off from the Unity Fountain in Abuja to Three Arms Zone.

The protesters were escorted by many police officers from the fountain to the seat of power.

They marched carrying placards with various inscriptions chanting solidarity songs.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, one of the protesters, Aisha Yesufu, said there was no better way she could show love for her country on Valentine’s Day than protecting its democracy.
Ms. Yesufu said after all if Nigeria ends up unstable, she would not have the time and kind of environment she would need to spend time with her loved ones.

“We are saying we are standing for democracy, the democracy that a lot of people fought so hard for, some even gave their lives for it, and so it should not be truncated,” she said.
She said that March 28, the new date for the presidential election, must be revered. Ms. Yesufu said she joined the protest for Nigeria not for any individual or political party.

“Unfortunately, the elections were postponed and what we are saying right now is the fact that March 28 is Sacrosanct, I listened to my president on the Media Chat saying that May 29 is sacrosanct; but he never said anything about March 28 and so we are letting them know that on no conditions should the elections be postponed again.

“Nigeria needs to do this and get it done with,” Ms. Yesufu said.
Also speaking, another protester, Jubril Ibrahim, said the coalition intends to keep vigilance for the defence of Nigeria’s democracy, for free, credible and violence free elections, peace and the sustenance of fourth republic.

He said the need for this vigilance is pertinent given the pressure on the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission, by the security agencies to postpone the elections.
The INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, in the past week announced a postponement of Nigeria’s general election from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 29.

The electoral body, which had earlier announced its preparedness for the election, cited security concerns as it main reason for postponing the elections. The INEC chairperson, Attahiru Jega, had said Nigeria’s security chiefs submitted that the military will not be available to provide security on the originally scheduled election date.

Mr. Ibrahim said the coalition is worried that there is a plan to scuttle the elections.

“We think it’s not convincing because the Boko Haram insurgency have been on for the past six years and it has only grown from strength to strength; wherefore the six weeks is not enough time definitely to come to a conclusion on the Boko Haram,” Mr. Ibrahim said. “We feel therefore it’s a situation similar to what we had in 1992, 1993 over the June 12 elections.”

He added that there are fears that after six weeks, the security agencies might come with the same excuse for any extension that will lead to another shift in the newly fixed poll dates.
Twice before the shift of the poll dates, protesters had stormed the INEC Headquarters and the Eagle Square, where they were prevented by security operatives from entering the Presidential Villa.

Before these two anti-postponement protest, some youth numbering about 100, whom critics say were hired by the Nigerian Government, had on Monday marched to the INEC headquarters demanding the postponement of the elections.
The youth had gathered in front of the electoral body’s headquarters, asking the commission to delay the polls because of the difficulty in the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card, PVCs.

The youth carried banners and placards with the inscriptions such as “Election is for general participation, not for selective few”, “INEC, do the right thing”, “Don’t disenfranchise Nigerians”, and “We demand for the extension of election to allow Nigerian exercise their franchise.”

After the protest, the youth returned to the Unity Fountain where they were sighted sharing money.

It was not clear if they were sponsored by the Presidency or the PDP, but there were allegation that they were hired by some unnamed individuals who promised them money.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/176857-abuja-protesters-demand-no-postponement-polls-beyond-march-28.html

Hmmm

I don't think the election will be postpone again. So, no fear. this seems like a sponsored protest, but by which party? i know you can answer the question.

Counter protest

Jega no fe try dat 1

In my own opinion, there is no election in this year cause if Jonathan ask for postponement of election cause of Boko haram, his request will be granted cause it is allowed in our constitution. But we have to fight for 28 march election

And dey will tell dose "fools" to go and protest and die, while their kids will be twitting. If dey want change, tell dem to bring dem kids along to protest. Dem no even know wad pvc is not to talk of registering.

Hope jona is not planning another postponement? It always come like a rumors.

K

Jonathan likes it or not, he must hand over to GMB come May 29, 2015.
Say no to Interim National Government.

One shoeless man from otuoke can't scuttle our hard earned democracy...

GMB TILL 2019

Imagine u shifting ur wedding to march 28 from febuary 14th, and INEC said its not going to work again........ See bros God is telling u something about ur spouse

These people either have no one to spend valentine day with or they were paid huge sums of money to protest.

APC no dey celebrate valentine abi, everything is haram to Apc.

cry if u can….. if need be

THEY DARE NOT POSTPONE IT.

Who said they were postponing the election again? Abi these niggas just want relevance

searching4love:
GMB TILL 2019

nightmare wake up

Regiblinkz:
Who said they were postponing the election again? Abi these niggas just want relevance

They were paid to protest, why else would they embark on such banalities.

jobless useless youth. useless party APC, gej till d last drop of my blood

searching4love:
GMB TILL 2019

Its GEJ till 2019, not GMB till 2019.
Illiterate like Buhari

i don't belive in how far but how well. Let the needfull be done that is all

no going back march 28 inevitable by special grace of God buhari will win with huge margin. d will of God will prevail.

siraj1402:
Hope jona is not planning another postponement? It always come like a rumors.

The Election must surely be postpone again, since Jega will be going on his terminal leave on March 24.

The new INEC chief will need more time to prepare for the Elections.

God bless GEJ.

coolhamid:
Jonathan likes it or not, he must hand over to GMB come May 29, 2015.
Say no to Interim National Government.

One shoeless man from otuoke can't scuttle our hard earned democracy...

So, you love Democracy that much, and you now want to vote for that very man that scuttle our hard earned Democracy.

That former coupist will never rule Nigeria.

We are ready for him!

The change must be actualised on March28. No form of intimidation will deter us from reclaiming our country.

We are as determined as the shephards from the east who fixed their gaze on the lone star that guided them to the birthplace of Christ.

Misogynist2014:
THEY DARE NOT POSTPONE IT.

It would be postponed again and heaven will not fall!.

This time around, the Military are not the ones to announce it, but the new INEC Chairman.

So, go to bed, is night.

the inec dare not postpone d election again oooooooo.

Skako:
Jega no fe try dat 1

jega no be the problem

Akpan107:
The Election must surely be postpone again, since Jega will be going on his terminal leave on March 24.

The new INEC chief will need more time to prepare for the Elections.

God bless GEJ.

jega says he is not going on terminal leave.he is there to ensure all goes well and all has been going well except for the incompetence on the part of ur security agents.