Cancellation of Election: Tough outcome frightens Jonathan, W/African leaders
..As Ooni, ex-Ghananian President sue for calm
…Reject results — NNPP tells Nigerians
…Win back slipping confidence of Nigerians — CAN tells INEC
…As HURIWA backs Obasanjo’s cancellation call
…Don’t incite violence — FG cautions Obasanjo
…APC-PCC fires back at former president
…Call for INEC’s chairman resignation, election cancellation, misplaced — INEC
Olaseinde Gbenga, Abuja; Jeleel Olawale, Ismail Azeez, Osogbo; Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt; Joel Oladele, Abuja
The outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly election has generated much heat amidst calls for cancellation of the presidential election and protests from political parties and their supporters, a development that has left Nigerians with fright.
On Tuesday, both local and foreign leaders, including political, religious, traditional, socio-cultural, and civil society stakeholders were resonating songs of calm to douse tension as the polity got heated.
While the collation drew to conclusion on Tuesday, there were more reactions trailing the results as many aggrieved stakeholders never waited for the final announcement of the outcome by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before calling for the cancellation of the polls.
Recall tension had begun to mount over the outcome of the Saturday February 25, presidential election as results announced from Monday at the ongoing collation process by INEC attracted wild reactions from party agents.
A mild drama unfolded at the collation centre of the 2023 presidential election in Abuja on Monday as the agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dino Melaye and some other party agents staged a walkout.
Melaye, who is also the spokesperson of PDP presidential campaign committee with the former Governor of Imo State ,Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and agent of the Labour Party among others staged the walkout on the INEC officials over dissatisfaction with the process of the collation of results from the State Collation Officers for the Presidential election (SCOPs).
They added that the results presented by SCOPs were not uploaded on the IReV as repeatedly promised by the INEC before the election.
Melaye had argued that the election is not in any way different from the manual transmission of results done in 2015 without uploading the results electronically on IReV.
Drawing more attention, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday, in a statement made available to journalists called on the Chairman of INEC to cancel results of Saturday presidential and National Assembly polls that were transmitted manually.
Obasanjo had also lamented that some INEC officials were allegedly said to have been compromised to ensure that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as well as electronic transmission of election results introduced to improve on the credibility of the electoral processes failed in some parts of the Country.
…Reject results — NNPP tells Nigerians, demands suspension of collation, cancellation of election
On Tuesday, tension heightened further as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Tuesday night joined the political bloc calling for the cancellation of the 2023 presidential election across the Country.
The National Chairman of the party, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, in a press conference in Abuja, alleged that the February 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections were marred with violence, vote-buying, voter suppression, failure of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, over-voting, lies about the IReV servers, attempt to undermine NNPP, campaign on election day and intimidation of voters.
The party, therefore, demanded the immediate suspension of the announcement of results and the conduct of fresh elections, calling on Nigerians to reject the results announced by INEC.
Alkali said, “We must be aware that no matter the situation in our Country, all leaders must consider the stability and security of the Country as paramount.
“Our Country is bigger than any individual and is certainly more important than any vested interest.
“To save our democracy and our Country, the present election results must not be accepted by Nigerians and by all friends of Nigeria.
“We are therefore calling on the immediate suspension of the announcement of results and the cancellation of the 2023 presidential election across the country. The new election should be conducted as soon as possible.”
As aggressive reactions trail the collation of results, scores of angry demonstrators on Tuesday stormed the National Collation Centre at the International Conference Centre in Abuja demanding that INEC keep to its promise to deploy electronic transmission of results.
The development came barely 24 hours after a similar group gathered near the National Defence College, a few metres away from the centre, making similar demands that “INEC, keep your promises,” of electronic transmission of results.
The protesters expressed shocked that INEC officials were writing out the results contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
Jonathan, other West African Elders wade in, sue for calm
To douse rising tension, former Nigeria President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, joined by Ex-Ghanaian President, John Mahama and other members of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to Nigeria have appealed for calm in the Country.
Calling on INEC to address the concerns and procedural questions raised so far by different stakeholders, they urged INEC to comply with the electoral law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a means of retaining the confidence of Nigerians in the ongoing collating of the February 25, 2023 election results.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, they disclosed that they have begun a process of consultations with some of the presidential candidates and other key stakeholders, taking to them a message of peace in order to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the Country.
The presidential candidates met by the Elders since the elections held on Saturday include Senator Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Peter Obi Of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the statement jointly signed by Jonathan who is the convener of WAEF and Mahama, Head of WAEF’s Mission to Nigeria’s 2023 Elections, the Forum commended Nigerians for the calmness, patience and maturity they have continued to exhibit as they wait for the collation process to be concluded.
The Mission further noted that Nigerians demonstrated faith and patriotism in their country, by defying the challenges of delay in the arrival of electoral materials, voter suppression and incidents of violence to perform their civic duties of voting on Election Day.
…Win back slipping confidence of Nigerians — CAN tells INEC
On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday, urged stakeholders to allow the will of the people expressed through the ballots on Saturday February 25, prevail.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who made the call in a statement issued in Abuja, warned that any attempt to compromise the credibility of the election results would bring about unimaginable consequences.
He, therefore, called on political parties and candidates, their supporters and the public to desist from any action that could create tensions or stoke violence.
He charged INEC to wake up to the responsibility to redeem its image, noting that glitches as “late arrival of election materials in parts of the country, malfunction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, failure of the planned electronic transmission of results to the virtual results viewing portal amid other structural challenges in the electoral process have not only cast a shadow of doubt on INEC’s sincerity to deliver a transparent and fair general election this year, but also threaten the credibility of the entire system.”
The statement reads, “The national leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has noted with deep concern the recent developments in the country following the February 25, Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“Elections are vital for our country’s stability and democratic consolidation, and so the process must be conducted and concluded safely, fairly and credibly.
“For this reason, we urge political parties, candidates, supporters and the public to desist from any action that could create needless tensions or stoke any form of violence that could put the country on a precipice.
“CAN specifically asks all presidential candidates to abide by the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord they signed before the elections. We remind them that this is the only country we have, and we must do everything to keep it safe, united and peaceful.
“In the same breath, we encourage all political actors, elder statesmen, eminent personalities in our society as well as religious and traditional leaders to make proactive interventions to calm any tensions and nip signs of violence in the bud.
“We equally ask the Independent National Electoral Commission to do all within its scope of authority to ensure that the will of the people as expressed through the ballots during last Saturday’s presidential and federal legislative elections count.
“Ideally, when people vote, the votes should be counted and allowed to reflect in the result the electoral umpire will announce. Anything short of that, remains an aberration in any democratic context and contest.
“Despite the many assurances given by INEC about its level of preparedness for the polls, it was observed in many quarters that last Saturday’s elections fell below the reasonable expectations of the people.
“Late arrival of election materials in parts of the country, malfunction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, failure of the planned electronic transmission of results to the virtual results viewing portal amid other structural challenges in the electoral process have not only cast a shadow of doubt on INEC’s sincerity to deliver a transparent and fair general election this year, but also threaten the credibility of the entire system.
“It is, therefore, important that explanation be given to Nigerians as to why the preventable lapses were not addressed in a timely manner.
“INEC must rise to the occasion in the face of this precarious situation and do everything possible to win back the slipping confidence of the people in the electoral system, especially as the country prepares for the governorship and state legislative polls in 11 days time.
“Most importantly, all Nigerians must note that the whole of the international community is watching the behaviour of Federal Government and its agencies, especially the police, the army and the other law-enforcement agents, to see how far they respect the country’s constitution, the rule of law and the obligation to act well in playing their roles in respect of elections.
“CAN commends the electorate for the huge number of voter turnout, which is even more than the population of several countries. However, the implication is that, once anything goes wrong in our country, it will have a ripple effect across West Africa and beyond.
“As it is said, when Nigeria sneezes, the rest of the African continent catches cold. This implies that all stakeholders must ensure that these elections are free and fair so that no room is created for people to agitate unnecessarily or for violence to erupt.
“Against this backdrop, CAN calls for calm and restraint on all sides.”
Don’t set Nigeria on fire — HURIWA tells INEC
Among Civil rights advocacy groups lending their voice to the call for peace, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the INEC, to give Nigerians a credible election in order to avoid protests and violence.
In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA made the call, urging INEC to resist any desire to rig the elections but hearken to the voice of Nigerians in doing what is right.
“The political elites in Nigeria are known to have two homes; one in Nigeria and others in foreign jurisdictions especially in Western Europe. So, they stay in Nigeria to instigate riots through mismanagement of elections and thereby allowing the commoners to die because they will catch the next available flight to Europe or Dubai to escape the inferno, deaths, pains and pangs that will follow.
“This is the reason why they keep manipulating the electoral process for their own selfish gain because so many of them have billions of dollars in their offshore account and own lots of housing assets abroad so much so that they are kept away from the consequences of the internal crises they created in Nigeria and left the hoi polloi to perish.
“We are asking the leadership of INEC to tell us why they are intent on setting Nigeria on fire. Why rig the election so brazenly and refusing to hear the voices calling them to do what is right and just? Why is INEC bent on setting Nigeria on fire by their gross mismanagement of the 2023 polls?
“We demand that the INEC Chairman and his Commissioners remedy the manipulated and doctored results they have already created to avoid the violent protests that may start very soon. Therefore, this is the time to act.
“We are calling on Buhari to call INEC to order now and if protests are ignited because of these shenanigans by INEC, we ask the international community to caution the Nigerian outgoing President not to kill protesters extrajudicially or he will be taken to the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands for crimes against humanity because he is the head of the armed forces of Nigeria for now,” the group said.
HURIWA further endorsed the latest warning of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo against continuous manipulation of election results by INEC and urged INEC to listen to his counsel.
Traditional rulers join calm appeals
On their part, traditional rulers have joined the voice of appeals for calm.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, on Tuesday appealed to all stakeholders, particularly politicians and INEC to be matured in their conducts in order for peace to reign.
This was contained in an emergency press release issued by the Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, at the Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife on Tuesday.
The Ooni who spoke in his capacity as the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), explained that Nigerians particularly the low income earners have been waiting patiently for the electioneering period to be over for them to resume normal activities.
The Ooni explained that Nigerians particularly the low income earners have been waiting patiently for the electioneering period to be over for them to resume normal activities.
“The imbroglio developing from the Presidential election of Saturday is unnecessary, distracting and totally unacceptable, for the nation does not need it at the moment.
“All over the world, elections are known to be disputed. And the tension must be addressed in a way in line with law of the land and in accordance with the best global practices.
“All politicians involved and their respective political parties without exception not to do anything capable of heating up the polity as this dangerously amounts to torching up a simmering fire of Nigerian cohesion.
“The Ooni of Ife in his capacity as the Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) hereby charges the nation’s electoral body to remain on the path of fairness, equity and justice as it sets to complete the process of announcing the result of the election as adopted in global best standard,” he said.
Accordingly, he charged the national electoral body to remain on the path of fairness, equity and justice as it sets to complete the process of announcing the result of the election as adopted in global best standard.
In the same vein, Oba Ogunwusi urged Nigerians to remain patient and understanding of the fact that the Country is far bigger than all entities and personalities.
“Nigeria and indeed some Nigerians are yet to recover from the hurts that emanated from the mismanagement of the #ENDSARS protest, that is why we must be watchful of our conducts and speeches.
“Nigerians have suffered enough and any form of uproar will add to the already harsh conditions of living for Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable amongst us.
“I equally urge our youths to resist all pressure to be utilised by unpatriotic elements as thugs,” he stated.
In similar vein, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi cautioned politicians in the country not to set the nation on fire over their ambition.
The monarch while addressing journalists at his Palace in Iwo on Tuesday on the ongoing collation of Presidential election results, said the outcome of the election reflected the wishes of the people.
“I am of the view that the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections sprung lots of surprises, inferring that the will of the people largely reflected in the outcome. It will be a disservice to the Country to attempt to scuttle the process for the ambition of individuals.
“At this stage, it is imperative for all candidates and the political elites to rein in on their supporters to remain calm and not to put the Country on the edge, especially after the #EndSARS protest which the economy is still battling.
“Nigeria’s interest supersedes that of individuals, hence, we must collectively ensure that we support our institutions, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to succeed in its task,” he said.
Don’t incite violence — FG cautions Obasanjo
Meanwhile, in reaction to the call for cancellation of the presidential election, the Federal Government under has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to truncate the 2023 general elections with his allegedly inciting, self-serving, and provocative letter on the polls.
In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said what the former President “cunningly” framed as an “appeal for caution and rectification” was nothing but a calculated attempt to undermine the electoral process and a wilful incitement to violence.
“Though masquerading as an unbiased and concerned elder statesman, former President Obasanjo is a known partisan bent on thwarting, by subterfuge, the choice of millions of Nigerian voters,” the Minister said.
Mohammed expressed shock and disbelief that a former President could purportedly throw around unverified claims and amplify “wild allegations” picked up from the streets against the electoral process.
The Minister accused the former President of, in his time, organising “perhaps the worst elections” since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, adding that he is the “least qualified” to advise a President whose determined effort to leave a legacy of free, fair, credible and transparent election is “well acknowledged” within and outside Nigeria.
He said, as the whole nation waits with bated breath for the result of last Saturday’s national elections, amid unnecessary tension created by professional complainants and political jesters, what is expected from a self-respecting elder statesman are words and actions that douse tension and serve as a soothing balm.
“Instead, former President Obasanjo used his unsolicited letter to insinuate, or perhaps wish for, an inconclusive election and a descent into anarchy; used his time to cast aspersion on electoral officials who are unable to defend themselves, while surreptitiously seeking to dress his personal choice in the garb of the people’s choice. This is duplicitous,” he stated.
The Minister reiterated to the former President that organising elections in Nigeria is no mean feat, considering that the voter population of 93,469,008 in the country is 16,742,916 more than the total number of registered voters in 14 West African nations put together at 76,726,092.
“With a deployment of over 1,265,227 electoral officials, the infusion of technology to enhance the electoral process, and the logistical nightmare of sending election materials across our vast country, INEC seems to be availing itself creditably, going by the preliminary reports of the ECOWAS Electoral Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Observer Group, among other groups that observed the election.
“Therefore, those arrogating to themselves the power to cancel an election and unilaterally fix a date for a new one, ostensibly to ameliorate perceived electoral infractions, should please exercise restraint and allow the official electoral body to conclude its duty by announcing the results of the 2023 national elections.
“After that, anyone who is aggrieved must follow the stipulated legal process put in place to adjudicate electoral disputes, instead of threatening fire and conjuring apocalypse,” he added.
INEC reacts to VC’s threat to life allegation
…Suspends PHALGA Reps, Senate polls
Meanwhile, INEC Rivers State through its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Alalibo has reacted to the threat to life against the State Collation Officer, Prof Teddy Charles, clarifying that his job as Collation Officer does not include conduct and supervising of elections and as such has no powers to alter any election result that has already been concluded at the local government level.
The REC while addressing journalists urged those perpetrating the crime or involved in such threat to desist forthwith or be ready to face the consequences.
He therefore directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in Rivers State to get to the root of the matter with a view to forestalling a recurrence.
Alalibo used the medium to inform the public of the suspension of PHALGA 2 House of Representatives and Senate elections over irregularities, promising to reconduct the said election after investigation.
…APC-PCC fires back at Obasanjo
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has chided former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his call for cancellation of February 25th presidential election.
The former president who had openly declared his support for the presidential candidate of the Labor Party (LP), Peter Obi earlier this year went further on Monday by writing a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming that the election has failed an integrity test and as such must be cancelled.
Reacting to Obasabjo’s claims at a press conference, the Special Adviser, Media, Communications and Public Affairs, APC-PCC, Dele Alake, said Obasanjo has no right to meddle in the election as he has publicly taken side by endorsing Peter Obi before the election.
The statement also described the action of some party agents who walked out of the collation center in Abuja on Monday as a mere gang up to truncate democracy like it was in the year 1993.
“His call was anchored on the unsubstantiated claims, rumours and allegations of fraud by opposition parties led by Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, who having seen that they have lost the election would rather want our hard won democracy to be truncated on the altar of their lies.
“You must also be aware of the gang up by the PDP and Labour Party, whose agents walked out of the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Monday. Today, they continued their conspiracy to truncate our 24-year democratic journey by raising unfounded allegations against INEC, casting aspersions on the whole electoral process, forgetting the process had handed them unexpected victories in some states.
“We have always suspected that the Labour Party and PDP are the same, only divided by individual inordinate ambition. We want to remind them that election is a process like pregnancy. Like a pregnancy that has reached full term, it cannot be aborted. We are not in 1993 when June 12 was aborted by similar forces. It is too late to do so.
“The APC-PCC wants to say emphatically that former President Obasanjo has no moral right to meddle in this election let alone calling for its cancellation because he is an interested party having publicly, on January 1 this year, endorsed the candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
“Although we stand by our position as stated yesterday not to jump the protocol governing the announcement of the election results and allow Independent National Electoral Commission to perform its constitutional duty, we want to tell the gathering anti-democratic forces that we have the strength, the determination and the will to protect and defend this process and the soon-to-be-formally announced mandate freely given to our party and Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
“We are very well aware of the plan of the PDP and their Labour Party collaborators to heighten tension in the country and create general state of fear through their sponsored Television and Radio surrogates who continue to push false narratives about the general conduct of the election.
“We are also aware of the coordinated assault aimed at discrediting the whole electoral process and the integrity of INEC by their so-called paid and partisan agents who wear the toga of Election Observers.
“We consider Obasanjo’s failed attempt to scuttle the process through his unsolicited advice to President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the election as part of the grand orchestration of many evil plots to truncate democracy in Nigeria,” Alake stated
He added that the election has been adjudged credible and transparent by international observers as it has also witnessed a lot of twists whereby some political bigwigs lost their state to the opposition.
“It is our submission that the election conducted nationwide on Saturday was credible and transparent.
“Our position has been attested to by the international observers such as the Commonwealth, ECOWAS, European Union and African Union observer missions who adjudged the election as peaceful, free and fair whilst they identified areas of logistical improvements INEC should take into consideration in future elections.
“As you are well aware, the election was replete with drama. We saw the APC presidential candidate, party chairman and PCC director-general, losing their home states to Labour Party. Our DG also lost his bid to the Senate.
“We have also seen how Governor Samuel Ortom, a Labour Party backer lost his state of Benue to the APC. He also lost his bid to the Senate to the APC candidate. The Benue APC Tsunami was triggered by our popular governorship candidate, Father Hyacinth Alia and the party leader, George Akume. In Taraba, we have also witnessed how Governor Darius Ishaku lost his senatorial election.
“With all these hills and valleys and dramas that characterised the election, how can anyone claim the election was rigged or not transparent?
“We need to enjoin politicians to imbibe the democratic spirit. Elections are meant to test a candidate’s acceptance or popularity. In a National election, you must seek acceptance nationally. Ethnic champions can’t go far as democracy is a game of numbers.
“Wherever a candidate has the critical numbers, he wins. Wherever he is deficient, he loses. We have seen all these scenarios at play in the weekend election,” he said.
He therefore called on INEC to “speed up the announcement of the result to quickly diffuse the current atmosphere of anxiety in the country, so that Nigerians can move on from this election circle with a greater hope of a prosperity which our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised them during the electioneering campaign.
“We also call on Nigerians and our supporters across the country to be peaceful, exercise more patience and not be provoked by the antics of the agents of darkness lurking around.
“Finally, we call on Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan by conceding defeat. This election has already been won by our candidate, according to the results declared at the collation centres in the state. In 2015, President Jonathan did not wait for INEC to finish collation before he called President Muhammadu Buhari and congratulated him in the true spirit of democracy and sportsmanship.
“We urge Atiku Abubakar and Obi to follow the same path of honour, instead of attempting to heat the polity via the reckless statements by surrogates. Let Atiku and Obi call Tinubu now,” he concluded.
Call for INEC’s chairman resignation, election cancellation, misplaced – INEC
In a similar development, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi has described the call by Labor Party (LP) and PDP for resignation of INEC chairman as misplaced.
In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, Oyekanmi claimed the results emanating from the states so far have proven that the election was free, fair and credible enough.
He urged the aggrieved parties to follow due process by approaching the court to seek a redress rather than the undemocratic manner of attempting to interrupt the electoral process.
The statement reads, “The call by the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic Democratic Party on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign is misplaced. The allegation by Dino Melaye that the INEC Chairman allocated scores to parties is unfounded and irresponsible.
“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 cancelled.
“To be sure, aggrieved parties are free to approach the courts to ventilate their concerns and wait for the matter to be resolved. Making inciting comments capable of causing violence or unrest is unacceptable.
“The 2023 General election processes are in their final stages of completion. It is only fair for aggrieved parties to allow the conclusion of the process and approach the courts with their evidence to pursue their cases.”
…Senate resumes with rowdy session over election cancellation, House of Reps warns against violence
Meanwhile, as the call for cancellation of the election persists, the Senate on Tuesday was engrossed in a stormy session over the results being collated by INEC.
Trouble started on Tuesday after the Senators resumed plenary following the break to enable them participate in the polls.
Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, APC, Kwara Central raised a motion on the need to call for calm and appeal to political parties, stakeholders and Nigerians to abide by the rule of law on the electoral process in the just concluded election.
However, the Chamber became charged when opposition Senators led by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers West), said that it was wrong to bring up the issues at such a “critical time.”
Apiafi said that it was not in the place of the Senate to prescribe what the guidelines should be.
At this point, while the APC Senators wanted the motion and the prayers to be heard, the opposition Senators disagreed, leading to a rowdy session in the upper chamber.
Meanwhile, from the lower chambers, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has assured that the Country would resist anyone seeking to take advantage of current tension arising from the controversial outcomes of the Saturday’s presidential elections held nationwide.
Stating that political actors and all Nigerians must desist from making utterances or actions capable of derailing democracy in Nigeria, Gbajabiamila’s whose remarks were contained in his address of welcome to his colleagues at the resumption of plenary session after the legislative break for the presidential and National Assembly elections, said, “Our country has just been through a hotly contested general election. As we gather here this morning, the election results are still being collated and announced.
“We expect shortly to be informed who will be the next president of our republic and the people who will represent Nigerians in the 10th assembly.
“Elections in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-party democracy too often devolve into faultlines, generating abundant conflict and controversy.
“The test of an advanced democracy is the ability to manage grievances and settle disagreements without causing fatal damage to the body polity.
“The constitution of our republic and the Electoral Act that governs elections in Nigeria both define a framework of post-election dispute resolution and adjudication.
“This framework exists to protect the integrity of our elections. It ensures that when elections fail to meet expectations, contested issues of facts and law can be resolved through a due process within a legal framework befitting a constitutional democracy.
“It is not in the interest of our country, now or ever, to advocate for or embrace extralegal interventions to resolve electoral disputes and address grievances.
“We must avoid actions or utterances that set the stage for interventions that could be fatal to our democracy and the gains we have made over the last two decades.
“This is the time, despite whatever disappointments we may each feel, to reject considerations of partisan and other interests to come together and make sure first that our country survives and our imperfect democracy continues its march towards progress and a more perfect union.
“This is the time for political, social, religious and economic leaders across the nation to work steadfastly together towards the ends of law and due process.
“I am confident we will rise above the worst expectations others may have of us in this defining this moment.
“We will resist malign actors seeking to exploit this moment of tension for their own ends. We will defeat the cynicism of those waiting to see their worst predictions for our country become real.
“Nigeria will be at peace because we will work through the law and due process to resolve differences, settle disputes and ensure the peaceful transition of power.”
