NANS declares mass protest on Monday of postponed elections

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Saturday threatened to organise mass protests of the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Spokesman of the association, Mr. Azeez Adeyemi, in a media interaction in Abeokuta on Saturday said the students would organise nationwide protests on Monday over the INEC’s decision.

Adeyemi vowed that the association was fully mobilised for the protests and that no attempt to stop it would succeed, saying that the postponement is a “show of shame and disgrace to a country.”

He noted that countries often learnt from their past, “but, that is not so with Nigeria.”

Adeyemi was of the view that the sovereignty of Nigeria should not be toyed with by selfish leaders, adding that the unity of the country should not be frustrated. He decried that it was a shame and a bad signal to worldwide observers that the sincerity in the forthcoming elections was diminishing.

“The sovereignty of Nigeria should not be toyed with by any leader. Our forefathers fought for this; the unity of the nation should not be frustrated.

“NANS declares Monday 18th of February, 2019 as a day of nationwide protest by Nigerian students.

“We hereby state categorically that no attempt by security agencies to disrupt this protest will survive,” Adeyemi said.

NANS further demanded that resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. “Our position is that INEC Chairman should resign and President Muhammadu Buhari should strengthen Nigeria’s security,” the spokesperson said.

NANS also accused President Buhari of not living up to the expectations of Nigerians; adding that the postponement of the elections would not have been made possible without the knowledge of the President.

“For over three months now, even, till yesterday (Friday), INEC has been assuring Nigerians that the commission is fully ready, why now calling off the election on the day of the election.

“NANS still holds the view and sure of the fact that this postponement is not the complete decision of the INEC chairman, but, by some cabals at the Presidency,” the spokesperson said