Oshiomhole explained that he won’t forgive INEC for allowing his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to “incur” cost due to the postponement of the presidential election.
He made the remark in response to a statement by INEC’s National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, that as at 5pm on Friday, February 15, 2019, INEC leadership were still optimistic on being able to pull through with the election on February 16, hence the delayed announcement of the postponement.
Okoye had stated this during a round table discussion on electoral reform.
INEC had announced the postponement of the elections few hours from the commencement of the presidential election initially slated for February 16.
However, Oshiomhole while speaking at a presentation during a round table discussion on electoral reform yesterday said: “As at 5pm on Friday, February 15, some of the materials INEC needed were still at the airports. How could you have assumed that by some native doctor’s magical something, you could pull it through?
“Obviously you knew it was not in your competence to increase the day beyond 24 hours. So, obviously you knew and you cannot be pardoned for that. And I refuse to forgive you on that because you knew it and you made us incur costs that were avoidable and you subjected us to severe shocks.
“I don’t think you can defend that. It was gross, inexcusable negligence of duty and crass incompetence on the part of INEC. There is no need to wish it away.”
