Nigerians should stay calm despite election-shift 'setback' — ASUU boss

Nigerians have been urged to stay calm despite the postponement of the 2015 general elections announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday.

The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan chapter, Segun Ajiboye, called INEC's decision to shift the date a 'setback for Nigerian democracy, reports.

Ajiboye however urged Nigerians to be calm over the shift.

“We condemn the shift in the dates for the polls but, however, we encourage Nigerians to keep calm in the face of unnecessary provocations," Ajiboye said.

"The decision is a serious setback for Nigerian democracy. But we should remain steadfast. Let us organise and not agonise."

He advised Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) before the new election dates.

The elections were initially scheduled for February.

In the new time table, the Presidential elections will now hold on March 28, while the gubernatorial polls were shifted to April 11.

Insecurity and logistic challenges, especially the PVC distribution, were among the reasons for the shift in the polls.

It was reported last week that only about 45,098,876 voters have collected their cards, about 66.7% of the over 68 million that registered.

The Commission has extended the deadline for collection of PVCs by registered voters to March 8.