The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has considered as untenable the security reason given for postponement of the February polls by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This came as Senator Gbenga Ashafa described the Federal Government as a monumental failure and advised that it be resisted by all Nigerians through the use of their thumb and Permanent Voters’ Card at the poll on March 28 to vote President Goodluck Jonathan out of office.

It will be recalled that chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had last Saturday announced the shift in the general elections, earlier slated for February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, 2015.

Reacting to the poll shift, Publicity Secretary of ARG, Kunle Famoriyo siad: “Nigeria’s defence and security institutions have not convinced Nigerians that they have the capability to curb the Boko Haram insurgency and it remains to be seen that they now possess new tactics and intelligence on how to curb it.

“Therefore, it is difficult to see how a six-year menace will disappear in six weeks.

“Indeed, the events of the past few weeks lend credence to a pervasive public opinion that INEC was coerced into its adopted position.

“Nigerians were not particularly surprised at the postponement and many actually saw it coming.

“There is no doubt an executive coercion whose design and intent can only be to subjugate Nigeria’s premier democratic institution, and until the security chiefs are able to advance believable reasons and demonstrate renewed commitment to their constitutional duty, Nigerians will remain suspicious of a premeditated plan to subvert democratic process.”