*Claims poll was doctored, manipulated
*Calls on INEC Chairman to step aside
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Three Political parties -the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC)- have jointly called for the immediate cancelation of the presidential election held on Saturday, February 25, nationwide.
They maintained that the results of the election have been heavily manipulated and doctored.
At a press conference jointly addressed by the Chairmen of the three opposition parties, Dr Iyorchia Ayu (PDP), Barrister Julius Abure (LP) and Dr Ralph Okey Nwosu (ADC) and their chieftains in Abuja, they also passed a vote of no confidence on the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, with a call on him to step aside.
The parties pushed for a fresh election to be carried out within the window allowed by the Electoral Act and in accordance with the laid down INEC procedure for the conduct of the 2023 Elections.
They called on the international community to note that the results being declared at the National Collation centre, Abuja, have been heavily doctored and manipulated and do not reflect the wishes of Nigerians expressed at the polls on February 25, 2023.
The parties, in their joint position presented by Barrister Abure, the National Chairman of LP, said, “This election is not free and far from being fair or transparent.
“There is ongoing extensive cancellation of results all over the country, especially in the areas of strength of the opposition parties to shore up the numbers of the ruling APC.
“We have, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that the presidential election of Saturday, February 25, 2023 conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been irretrievable compromised and, we have totally lost faith in the entire process.
“The Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party shall not be part of the process currently going on at the National Collation Centre, and we demand that this sham of an election should be immediately cancelled.
“We also call for a fresh election to be carried out within the window allowed by the Electoral Act and in accordance with the laid down INEC procedure for the conduct of the 2023 Elections.
“We similarly call on the international community to note that the results being declared at the National Collation centre have been heavily doctored and manipulated and do not reflect the wishes of Nigerians expressed at the polls on February 25, 2023.
“We also wish to declare a vote of no confidence on the INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood. By his conduct and reaction to the complaints of disenfranchised political parties, we believe that he lacks the integrity and moral standing to continue to oversee this process to a conclusion.
“We are therefore calling for Professor Yakubu to step aside from his role as INEC Chairman and for a credible personality from outside the Commission to take his place and see this process to a conclusion that would be acceptable to all stakeholders and would restore the confidence of the international community in our democratic process and institutions.
“We are, therefore, constrained on this development to state that INEC compromised the integrity of this election even before collation began at the PUs.
“Section 60 sub-section 5 of the Electoral Act states that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including total number of accredited voters and the result of the ballot in a manner as prescribed by the commission.”
“It was on the strength of this provision in our Electoral Act that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced the BVAS technology to the country.
“The expectation of the majority of Nigerians was that INEC was going to conduct the 2023 election in compliance with both the Electoral Act and its own guidelines.
“Unfortunately, INEC capitulated on that promise and conducted the election with the usual crude standard that predates the introduction of the BVAS machine”, they said.
In attendance at the press conference were; Senator Liyel Imhoke, former Governor of Cross River, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, former Governor of Imo state, Dr Okwesilieze Nwode, former Governor of Enugu State, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communication (owner of AIT and Raypower), Dr Oseluka Obazi, Otunba Dele Momodu, Director of Strategic Communication of Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organization, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, former member, House of Representatives, Senator Dino Melaye, Mr Valentine Ozogbo and Mr Clement Ojukwu, National Organizing Secretary of LP among others.
