Give INEC A Second Chance —Babatope

Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a PDP stalwart, yesterday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, appealed to Nigerians to accept the postponement of Saturday’s National Assembly elections in good faith.

Babatope, who made the appeal in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said although the decision was painful, Nigerians should give INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, another chance.

Babatope, a former Minister of Transport in the defunct late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime, said he was disturbed initially when he heard about the postponement.

“I was disturbed and perturbed when INEC announced the postponement because that was the very first time an election would be treated that way in Nigeria.

“While I join well-meaning Nigerians in saying that Jega should be given another chance, it must be on record that he had all the time to prepare for the elections,” he said.

Babatope said the commission and all Nigerians had learnt a lesson from the postponement, which he described as “a monumental disgrace”.

However, Mr. Gbenga Awosode, a lawyer and human rights activist said Jega’s action was not only in order, but legal.