Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state said on Monday that the postponed presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not affect the promise made by Katsina people to deliver three million votes for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja, the governor said the postponement would not change the position of Katsina people.
He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) really in the state last Thursday had clearly indicated that the people would deliver on their three million votes for the president.
“Katsina people are ready; you saw it if you were here on Thursday (rally) you would know Katsina people are ready and prepared for these elections. The postponement will not change anything, it will not change the position of Katsina state.
“We were ready two days ago. I believe those of you who were in Katsina since on Wednesday or Thursday you would have seen that we were more than ready as far as the elections is concerned,” he said.
He said based on previous experience, the postponement did not come as surprise to him, saying, “I hope INEC does not develop a culture of shifting dates of elections.”
He said it would unfair for anybody or organisation to shift the blame of the postponed elections on the President because INEC, as an independent body, should be held responsible for its action.
“But the fact on ground is that INEC gave assurance and the federal government has given INEC all the resources they required. So, the failure if there is any is their own. It has nothing to do or very little to do with the President except that being the president and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces whatever happens under the sun in Nigeria he becomes responsible but not liable.
“If you are looking for somebody who is liable, INEC is liable to convince Nigerians why it shifted the elections because all the political parties are going to suffer the consequences of INEC’s action.
“So, obviously there will be additional cost on the political parties and also the on government. So, the president cannot deliberately orchestrate this and knowing the kind of president Nigeria has now – he has not even interfere with departments that are directly under him let alone a commission that is independent based on the provision of the constitution. He is somebody who believes in the rule of law,” he said.