Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday, apologised to fun-loving Nigerians for the conduct of the 2015 presidential election which falls on February 14, Lovers’ Day.
He said the conduct of the poll was a coincidence with the February 14 Valentine’s Day.
Some Nigerians have been complaining about the fixing of the presidential and National Assembly elections for that Saturday which, to them, would rub them of the joy derivable from the day.
Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Idowu, said in Abuja that the election date was a coincidence.
“When the commission was taking that decision, it never even occurred to the leaders of the commission that it was Valentine’s Day. But then, it is a day for showing love and if we can show love that will discourage people from fomenting violence, that will discourage you from being hateful towards another person on that day. It will make the election peaceful. So, it is a good coincidence. ’’
He, however, urged Nigerians to be guided by the meaning of Valentine’s Day to make the election peaceful.
“The message of the day is to show love for one another and therefore, there is no basis for violence, acrimony and being unruly because that day is a day for showing amenable conduct towards others.
Idowu also said that the Task Force set up by the commission on how to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country were given the opportunity to cast their votes in the forthcoming elections had submitted its report to the commission.
Kayode, however, did not give details of the recommendations but said the report was now going through the internal processes of the commission.
“Very soon, the specific modality will be announced as to how the IDPs will be able to vote,’’ he said.
