‘Corpers Slept In The Cold’ − Nigerians Fault INEC For Postponing Elections

Reactions are continuing to trail the postponement of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) moments before the poll.

Nigerians are taking to micro-blogging website, Twitter, to air mixed reactions to INEC’s postponement of the Presidential/National Assembly and Gubernatorial/House of Assembly elections to February 23 and March 9, respectively.

The Twitter users empathized especially with members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were seen in photos shared on social media sleeping outside “in the cold” after they were deployed to different polling units as INEC ad-hoc staff across different states.

The development led to the creation of a hashtag ¬– #CorpersReachOut2019 – on Twitter for people to assist youth corpers who are stranded in their communities.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections had been scheduled to hold today (Saturday), February 16, while those of governorship and state assembly were earlier scheduled for February 23.

But citing logistics challenges, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmmod Yakubu, announced postponement of the elections after a meeting with some stakeholders.

Below are some Twitter reactions:

This is the most wicked and barbaric evil action against the Nigerian people.
Budget was spent
International observers arrived Nigeria
People left their business and travelled so as to vote!!
Youth corpers slept in the cold etc
We are disappointed in #INEC #NigeraDecides2019 pic.twitter.com/uPMvWJtDLJ

— Bose Tinubu (@BoseTinubu) February 16, 2019

I expect NYSC to condemn this nonsense and do better in the future by engaging INEC about the welfare of the corpers.
Be assure provisions were made for accommodation and their feeding.

Same happened to us in 2011 when I was a corper,no food we slept in the cold open space pic.twitter.com/QSWgj0ysjX

— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) February 16, 2019

The NYSC should stop allowing corp members to be used as adhoc staff if there is zero provision for their welfare and accomodation really.

— Osikhena Dirisu (@Osi_Suave) February 16, 2019

Alright, so if you're willing to take in stranded NYSC corps members, or you know anyone who is, please reply this thread with your location. #NigeriaDecides2019 #CorpersReachout2019

— Mat'agu The Chief (@Miss_Matagu) February 16, 2019

Corpers, ad-hoc staff sleeping under most severe conditions, sensitive and none sensitive materials all already dispatched. Police paid, party agents paid, foreign observers around. They had 4 years to prepare, yet need just 7 days more?! It's a political assault strategy on PDP pic.twitter.com/iar7nU01qY

— Olushola Olufolabi (@olushola_shola) February 16, 2019

.@inecnigeria what happened to the funds meant to take care of Corpers? pic.twitter.com/otdhTF7nqK

— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) February 16, 2019

Please if you traveled to Abeokuta to vote and are now stuck, DM for address to my house. My grandmother is making Akamu and Akara for breakfast. Every Saturday morning, without fail. Our boys quarters is also empty and has 5 rooms and 3 baths. Youth corpers welcome.

— Mojé (@MoAmosun) February 16, 2019

This is very disappointing @inecnigeria
International observers are in Nigeria, youth corpers assigned to you are sleeping on floor ,people travelled to vote, budget spent, Its been 4years in the making yet you waited till today.. election day to postpone it??‍♀️

— Uche Jombo Rodriguez (@uchejombo) February 16, 2019

I expect NYSC to condemn this nonsense and do better in the future by engaging INEC about the welfare of the corpers.
Be assure provisions were made for accommodation and their feeding.

Same happened to us in 2011 when I was a corper,no food we slept in the cold open space pic.twitter.com/QSWgj0ysjX

— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) February 16, 2019

~ Abia state …. Corpers deployed to work for inec – 1:20 am!!! pic.twitter.com/6S5ZG8XoO1

— dir D. (@DirectedByDiji) February 16, 2019

Despite billions of naira approved for INEC to take care of the adhoc staff in this election, all corpers working for INEC are sleeping indude buses, open field and so on

INEC still postponed the elections after all ??????‍♂️??‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/ALVT8UWLgk

— Modebolanle (@modebolanle) February 16, 2019