Election: APGA Presidential candidate, Gbor appeals for calm

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Presidential candidate Gen. John Gbor (rtd), has described as unfortunate, the postponement of the 16th February Presidential and National Assembly election.

Gbor, who made this known in his Anmber village, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State where he went to vote in the election however appeal for calm from Nigerians.

"It is unfortunate that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the election" Gen. Gbor said adding, "it is unfortunate that the postponement was announced on the day election was to hold.

"Nigerians left their homes to where they are suposed to vote. They spend money and sacrificed a lot to go and vote only to be told that the election is postponed. I sympathise with my fellow country men and urge them to be calm."

The APGA Prasidential candidate, who said he has no doubt that INEC, under the leadership of Prof Mahmood Yakubu will conduct credible polls posited that the postponement of the election by the umpire body is not a strange thing because other developing nations have suffered a similar thing.

He added that Nigeria needs good leaders and patriots so that "this kind of avoidable situation will no longer occur."

Gen. Gbor nevertheless, admitted that the people are disappointed. "I left Abuja for my village Anmber, where I am a registered voter only to be told few hours to election time that the election has been postponed. The people are disappointed.

"I am told that in Benue South, the people refused to leave the polling units and insisted that election must hold. That was their frustration," he noted.

He commended university teachers, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, security agents and others deployed for the postponed election for their sacrifice to seeing that "Nigeria is a functional state" and appealed to them not to be discouraged by the postponement.

To the electorate, he said: "You were ready to come out and vote but the election has been postponed. Do not be discouraged. Come out on 23rd February and vote for the candidates of your choice.

"And when you vote, especially, the youth shun violence. If you are provoked, don't react; vote for peace. I have signed to a peace accord and I urge our people to remain calm for the new date.

"We are all Nigerians and this is our country. We don't have any other country that is called our own. Apart from that there is no alternative to democracy."