Murray-Bruce bashes Fela Durotoye campaign for ‘hijacking’ nonpartisan initiative

Nigerian lawmaker Ben Murray-Bruce has berated the campaign team of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) presidential candidate Fela Durotoye for allegedly hijacking a nonpartisan initiative to mobilise voters for the postponed Nigeria presidential and National Assembly elections.

Nigeria’s electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the general elections a few hours to the commencement on Saturday, February 16.

The presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 23 while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections will take place on March 9.

The postponement of the election was met with disappointment by Nigerians- a majority of whom travelled to different parts of the country to exercise their franchise amidst harsh economic challenges. Not all of those who were adamant of voting would do so in the rescheduled dates.

To give succour to the financial challenge of an average Nigerian voter, a spokesman for former president Goodluck Jonathan and member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Reno Omokri launched a nonpartisan initiative- ‘Buses for Democracy’ to convey citizens willing to vote to states where they are registered to vote.

However, Durotoye’s campaign, aiming to stop the political duopoly of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP, personalised the nonpartisan initiative.

PLEASE, SHARE: Students all over Nigeria with PVC registered in school or anyone having challenge with transport to travel for voting can travel with #BusesForDemocracy on Thursday, #VoteFelaDurotoye on Saturday & return on Sunday. No more excuses. 📩info@busesfordemocracy.org pic.twitter.com/mrrLT40hHf

— Fela Durotoye Campaign HQ (@Fela2019) February 19, 2019

But in a swift response, Senator Murray-Bruce said he was disappointed in Durotoye for involving in such ‘ignominy’.

“This is an abuse of a patriotic initiative. The initiator of #BusesForDemocracy clearly said it is nonpartisan,” Murray Bruce said.

The Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency in the National Assembly questioned Durotoye’s decision to hijack an initiative meant to the nonpartisan to political interests, but for patriotism.

“How can you attempt to hijack such a pure sacrifice for your political ambition? I am disappointed if @feladurotoye is involved in this ignominy,” Murray-Bruce said.