Three of Nigeria’s biggest opposition parties; the People’s Democratic {arty, Labour Party and African Democratic Congress, are calling for the cancellation of Saturday’s presidential election, while also suggesting that the inec Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu steps aside and allow another to conduct a more credible election.
Addressing a joint news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday the three political parties accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of falsifying results and allocating votes rather than collating them. They condemned the whole electoral process calling it a ‘sham.’
“The conduct of the February 25, 2023 election has been marred by widespread violence, rigging, intimidation of voters, doctoring of the results, and violation of the laid down electoral process which was communicated by the national electoral body, INEC,” the parties said.
“INEC had announced a process which would require the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation and voting and that all election results would be electronically transmitted from polling units to INEC Servers.
“The above process, published repeatedly, announced, and agreed with INEC by all political parties was not followed, thereby leaving room for manipulation of the results after Nigerians had voted.”
The chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, referred to the Electoral Act which deals with the electronic transmission of results.
“Section 60 sub-section 5 of the Electoral Act says that the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballots in a manner as prescribed by the commission,” he said.
“A failure to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the guidelines makes it imperative that all results recently uploaded on the IReV portal must be updated before they are announced.
“INEC went back on that promise. This election is not free and far from being fair and transparent.
“We shall not be part of the electoral process currently going on at the National Collation Centre and we demand that this sham of an election be immediately canceled.”
The parties called for a fresh election to be carried out by the law.
The LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, who delivered the position of the three opposition parties, said.
The parties also asked the chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to “step aside” from his role.
In addition, they called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the electoral process.
Responding, the Chief Press Secretary to the commission’s chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi said there was no basis for the resignation call.
“The allegation by Dino Melaye (PDP agent) that the INEC chairman allocated scores to parties is unfounded and irresponsible,” Oyekanmi said in a statement.
“At the same time, contrary to the insinuation by both parties, results emanating from the States point to a free, fair, and credible process.
“There are laid down procedures for aggrieved parties or candidates to follow when they are dissatisfied about the outcome of an election.
“Such procedures do not include calling on the INEC Chairman to resign or for the election to be canceled,” Oyekanmi added.
The INEC spokesman also asked the aggrieved parties to go to court rather than make what he termed “inciting comments.”