By Solomon Josiah, Maiduguri
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s postponement of the governorship election from 11th March to 18th March has generated numerous mixed reactions in Maiduguri and its environs, as it has done across the entire country.
The reason provided by INEC for the rescheduling of the election, which borders on the reconfiguration of BVAS, will no doubt lead to an unprecedented low turnout of voters for 18th March polls in Borno, considering the fact that the generality of the voters dismissed the reason as “a flimsy excuse”.
A large population of the now aggrieved voters had already forced their way from Maiduguri to their hometowns and villages three days ahead of the election day, daring all the security threats at the outskirts of Maiduguri, to exercise their franchise at their home communities.
Nothing could, therefore, be more dejecting for them, receiving the news of the postponement of the gubernatorial poll by one whole week.
A cross-section of voters in Maiduguri metropolis opined that their worsening economic situation, orchestrated by the crushing cashless policy will incapacitate them from revisiting their polling boots outside the state capital.
They have, therefore, already made up their minds to remain at home in the election day.
Subsequently, the postponement of the gubernatorial election has also disorganized the operations of the businesses of many individuals, private organizations, federal or state-owned establishments as well as educational institutions.
The Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) has indeed discouraged many to express their right to vote in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
