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Indict INEC Of Complicity
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Seek Help From Inter’l Community
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“The Future of Nigeria cannot be taken away by convoluted technical sophistry.”
Barely few hours after the conclusion of the collation of Saturday, February 25 presidential election, the coalition of ethnic nationalities has enjoined Nigerians and youths in particular to stand in unity to defend their mandate that is gradually being subverted.
The leaders of the ethnic groups in a joint release, frowned against deliberate attempts by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and it’s conspirators to collate and announce unreconciled results which are products of suspicious breach, tantamount to Electoral manipulations, a recipe for Chaos and destabilisation.
The Elder Statesmen noted that the hope for a new Nigeria have been so eloquently expressed, not only in the continuous voter registration process which witnessed the largest numbers of youth registration but also the largest voter turnout in the history of election in Nigeria.
Against this backdrop, the leaders thanked Nigerians, particularly youths for demonstrating uncommon patriotism in their quest to salvage their country through peaceful democratic elections, noting that they showed exceptional courage against all odds in order to exercise their civic responsibilities.
“They endured long hours stretching into the wee hours of the morning in the queue to vote and to ensure that their votes are not only counted but matter. They withstood voter intimidation, suppression and violence to exercise their constitutional rights.
“We salute the young woman, who, inspite of severe injury she sustained on her face, returned very gallantly to vote for the candidate of her choice, the leaders observed.
The Elder Statesmen noted in dismay that inspite of the commendable progress in the evolutionary process in the consolidation of the nation’s democracy, expressed concerns over the egregious and unacceptable conduct of INEC in the conduct, transmission and collation of the various results across Nigeria.
The leaders noted that the conduct of INEC on voter inclusivity, security, punctuality, logistics deployment, integrity and compliance to Electoral Act on electronic transmission of results has unfortunately, created mistrust between the electorates and INEC as well as casting serious doubts, not only to their status as fair and unbiased Umpire, but very importantly, on the credibility of the results they have collated and announced even without uploading most of the polling units results sheets to their Server as required by law.
They also noted that apart from the fact that none of the 176, 846 polling Unit Result was electronically transmitted Online real time, evidence abound of faint result sheets uploaded and completely illegible.
The Elder Statesmen declared that video evidences of INEC officials caught falsifying election results at local collation centres, and voters attacked and locked out from voting, on grounds of their tribe, religion or party affiliation are numerous in the public domain, including destruction of ballot boxes by hoodlums and Senior Government Officials while security men Watch without acting.
They further stated that all available evidence points to the “favoured political party getting away with murder,” thereby denying others “level playing field.”
The leaders said that February 26 Press Release by INEC was riddled with gaps which are incongruous with good judgement and reason.
It was in the light of all these that the concerned leaders enjoined Nigerians, particularly the youths to demand that their votes must count, and called on INEC to show incontrovertible evidence that all the votes uploaded to their Server and those held by all the party Agents tally, as the future of Nigeria cannot be taken away by convoluted technical sophistry.
The leaders in their wisdom proffered that all political parties can sit with INEC to reconcile the results and upload them accordingly before any national collation and announcement.
The Elder Statesmen who expressed gratitude to the team of international Observers and Monitors for a job well done, urged them to hold INEC accountable for the egregious breaches of the Electoral law 2022, any outcome of the 2023 Presidential Election.
The leaders also implored the international community to engage and put pressure on the federal government of Nigeria to protect the mandate of Nigerian people which was willingly expressed through a democratic Electoral process on Saturday 25 February, 2023 as well as ensure full compliance and rectification of any deviation from the electoral Law.
They, however, reiterated unequivocal commitment to a Nigerian federation where justice, equity and fairness are enthroned, and a country where no man, irrespective of his ethnicity, religion or party affiliation is not oppressed.
The release was endorsed by Chief Edwin Clarke, Leader of the PANDEF, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Afenifere, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, leader of the Middle Belt Forum, Chief Simon Okeke, Representative of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, His Excellency, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chairman, Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to Government of the Federation,SGF and Ambassador Okey Emutchay, Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
