The European chapter of Peter Obi Support Network (POSN), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to suspend the ongoing collation of elections results if they will not abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act.
POSN in a statement which a copy was made available to News Band Newspaper, condemned the shameful irregularities that marred the elections despite repeated assurance by the electoral umpire that it will conduct free and fair elections.
The Support Network also wondered why the commission deliberately failed to upload results at the polling unit level after making several bogus promises.
POSN however, called on the International community, particularly the Commonwealth, African Union, Europe, United Nations, United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Israel, and other strong democracies around the globe to ensure that the integrity of the ballot is protected by prevailing on the national authorities in Nigeria to ensure a free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful General Elections 2023.
The statement reads, “Over several months leading up to the Nigeria General Elections 2023, the Peter Obi Support
Network Diaspora (Europe) has been following the preparations of the Federal Government
and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and documenting the reassuring statements/pronouncements by this notable state actor and the Electoral Commission that the General Election 2023 would be free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful.
“We recall that on September 21, 2022, the Nigerian President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly said: “As President, I have set the goal that one of the enduring legacies I would like to leave is to entrench a process of free, fair and transparent, and credible elections through which Nigerians elect leaders of their choice.”
“Nigerians were repeatedly reassured about INECs readiness for the Nigeria General Elections in 2023. During a lecture at Chatham House in London on January 17, 2023, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared that the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be used. He said: “We have worked closely with stakeholders and development partners to confront these challenges and we are satisfied with
our preparations so far.”
“Yakubu had previously, on November 23, 2022, when he received the Commonwealth Pre Election Assessment Mission, reassured Nigerians: “The commission will upload polling unit level results and citizens will have access to those results in real-time as we upload.”
“Of course, the Peter Obi Support Network Diaspora (Europe) appreciated the voiced
commitment of the Nigerian Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission to delivering a free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful General Election 2023.
“However, during the General Election in 2023, which was held on February 25, there were
abounding evidence of widespread irregularities and gross violation of international best electoral practice processes as recorded and archived for posterity by several mainstream media outfits, political parties, polling agents, election monitors, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), pollsters, human rights groups, and independent local/international observers.
“Some of the despicable, lacerating, and totally unacceptable gross irregularities leading up to and playing out during the “failed” General Election on February 25, 2023, are highlighted below following extensive study of tonnes of photographic and video pieces of evidence gathered by a team of experts, corporate partners, election observers, the press, and investigative journalists:
“▪ Very late arrival of INEC officials at many polling stations across the Six Geopolitical
Zones, though it appears worse in the southern geopolitical zones, where several election
officials either turned up for election duties in the afternoon or arrived with incomplete
materials.
“▪ Omission of the Labour Party (LP) logo on the election ballot papers in several states in
the southern geopolitical zones, for example, Lagos State.
“▪ Blurred logo of political parties on ballot papers. A serious error raised by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate during an interview with the Arise News on February 25, 2023.
“▪ Large quantities of PVCs illegally dumped in bushes, drains, holes, and bins across
several states (like Anambra, Rivers, Lagos) in the southern geopolitical zones.
“▪ Underaged children were accredited and allowed to vote in some states in the northern
geopolitical zones’ contrary to the provisions of the law.
“▪ Deliberate violation of procedures by election officials who failed or refused to upload and
electronically transmit most of the election results. In places where some electronic
transfer of results took place, INEC officials successfully uploaded some National
Assembly results, but were unable or deliberately prevented from uploading the
presidential election results.
“▪ Using compromised BVAS that were apparently programmed to block the uploading of presidential election results.
“▪ Hoodlums armed with weapons freely roamed over parts of Rivers, Lagos, Edo, Kogi and several other states, engaging in daylight snatching and deliberate destruction of election materials in several polling units.
“Armed brutes taking over several polling units in parts of the south-west and south-south,
though this appeared more rampant in Lagos and Rivers State, to intimidate both the
voters and election officials, destroy election materials, and maim people.
“▪ Discriminatory ethnic profiling was at play and people of a particular tribe were warned in parts of Lagos State and prevented from voting and warned to stay away from polling units
or face dire consequence.
“▪ Large-scale mutilation, manufacturing, and falsification of election results in a manner that is unimaginable and unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.
“▪ Inadequate security at several polling units given how miscreants easily overpowered
security personnel, and stole or destroyed election materials, thereby preventing several
voters from carrying out their civil duty to vote.
“▪ Some rogue security agents and compromised election officials openly colluding with anti-social elements to create confusion, cause a breach of the peace, and violate the integrity of the ballot. In one case reported by a section of the press, some of the suspects were apprehended in Akwa Ibom State by gallant personnel of the Nigerian Military and handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for interrogation/prosecution.
“Considering the noticeable monumental irregularities, of which the exposition is already viral in public spaces, there is no doubt that most of the Nigerian people have lost confidence in the ability of INEC to deliver a free, fair, transparent, and credible General Elections in 2023. Also, a serious concern is that most of the people do doubt the interest of the Nigeria Government to carry out its primary responsibility to ensure the welfare and security of lives and properties. So, the country is now at a crossroad such that timely steps must be taken to prevent a complete descend into anarchy.
“Consequently, the Peter Obi Support Network Diaspora (Europe) is calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere with the letters and spirit of their election manuals and rule books on the Nigeria General Election 2023.
“We strongly urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid further gross violations, extensive breach of enshrined election standards and democratic principles.
“The electoral body, INEC, must abide with and strictly uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because further unconscionable violations is akin to pouring fuel on a fire which is highly dangerous given the tension in the land.
“We urge the Nigerian Government under the leadership of the President and Commander-in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that the law enforcement agencies are alive in their responsibilities to maintain law and order, arrest and diligently prosecute criminals that violate the law or disrupt the peace no matter their sponsors.
“The Peter Obi Support Network Diaspora (Europe) craves the assistance of the International Community, particularly the Commonwealth, African Union, Europe, United Nations, United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Israel, and other strong democracies around the globe to ensure that the integrity of the ballot is protected by prevailing on the national authorities in Nigeria to ensure a free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful General Elections 2023.
“We call on Nigerians to shun violence, but the people should insist that INEC must as a matter of urgency begin to show unfettered openness and transparency in the conduct of elections and result circulation by uploading into their systems (servers) all authentic election results, sack corrupt election officials, and use non-compromised election materials and devices.
“The POSN Diaspora (Europe) welcomes the decision of several political parties, including the Labour Party (LP) that have called for suspension of the announcement of election results and cancellation of compromised election over “non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral guidelines and obvious manipulation of the election results.”
“The POSN Diaspora (Europe) commends the priceless sacrifice and timely fatherly advice
yesterday by elder statesman and former Nigerian Head of State and President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, who has sued for peace and demanded that the Nigeria Government and INEC take the right measures to correct all forms of electoral irregularities by outrightly cancelling “all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test.”
“We hope the Nigeria Government, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the International Community would heed the voices of reason to ensure unity and peace in Nigeria.”
