The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it had not fixed the
Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 14 to deny Nigerians
the opportunity to celebrate love on Valentine’s day.
INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Idowu, explained
that the election date was a coincidence.
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,” Idowu
said.
He urged Nigerians to remember the essence of the Valentine’s Day to ensure
elections are conducted peacefully on the day.
“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. So, that should guide the
behavior of voters as they go out to vote,” Idowu said.
According to him, 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
vote in the forthcoming elections had submitted its report to the commission.
“Very soon, the specific modality will be announced as to how the IDPs will be
able to vote,” he said.
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