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’ is nothing but a calculated attempt to undermine the electoral process and a willful incitement to violence.

The Minister expressed shock and disbelief that a former President could throw around unverified claims and amplify wild allegations picked up from the street against the electoral process.

”Though masquerading as an unbiased and concerned elder statesman, former President Obasanjo is in reality a known partisan who is bent on thwarting, by subterfuge, the choice of millions of Nigerian voters,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed recalled that the former President, in his time, organised perhaps the worst election since Nigeria’s return to
democratic rule in 1999, hence 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.

”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 said.

The Minister reminded the former President that organising elections in Nigeria is not a 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, at 76,726,092, in 14 West African nations put together.

”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 said.

The post FG To Obasanjo: Don’t Truncate Electoral Process appeared first on Sunrise News.

General Akinrinade, who was a former Chief of Army Staff as well as Chief of Defence Staff statement is coming at a time when the Independent National Electoral Commission was still busy with the conduct and release of the elections results is both unfortunate and a glaring and calculative attempt to game the system. Without any shred of evidence a former President is challenging the integrity of a national elections and calling a seating President to truncate it midway.

As a General who fought for the unity of this country and one that has witnessed the many twists and turns of our democratic development, I am certain that Nigeria this time is on the right path. I find it most disturbing and objectionable that a former General and President will introduce such a diatribe into the body politic of Nigeria at such a delicate time as this.

Being not neutral, Obasanjo’s intervention falls short of patriotism and fits perfectly into meddling in the affairs of state that is already the constitutional responsibility of INEC.

Nigerians can easily recall the obasanjo years and his democratic antics and many bullish attempts at circumventing the political process.

I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore Obasanjo’s recent interruptions and focus on supporting the lawful institution to do its job by allowing the process to run it’s full course.

The President Buhari i know will let the process run its full course and will not intervene in an undemocratic manner to truncate the ongoing political process.

Luckily, President Buhari is made of finer and more principled democratic stuff. He will not allow Obasanjo to lure him into tainting his democratic credentials in this regard. I recall that in his last trip to the United States, President Joe Biden praised Buhari’s commitment to democratic values and principles. Obasanjo has no such record to be applauded.

The world has not forgotten his fraudulent and undemocratic attempt at a third term agenda in violation of the letter and spirit of the Nigerian constitution.

In 2007, after his botched third term bid, Obasanjo conducted the worst election in the history of Nigeria. The beneficiary of that electoral heist, Late President Umaru Yar’Adua openly admitted that his presidency was a product of a fraudulent election with a commitment to reform the electoral process.

Nigerians have voted. Their votes have counted. Let no one disrupt the process.

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A Federal Lawmaker, representing Ikorodu Division at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Babajimi Benson, has expressed appreciation to his constituents in Ikorodu for his re-election for the third term.

According to the summary of results from the Independent National Electoral Commission, Registration Area Level on Sunday, declared by the Returning Officer, Prof. Victor Arile, Benson polled 60,890 votes as the House of Representative candidate of the All-Progressive Congress, (APC) while the PDP candidate polled 15,961 votes.

Benson said, “my sincere appreciation once again to Almighty God, my wife, Jumoke Benson, leadership of the APC, party stakeholders and faithfuls, Ikorodu monarchs, Local Government chairmen, CDAs and the entire residents for the landslide victory”.

“While I express my gratitude to all and sundry, I want to use this medium to urge the residents to improve the numbers of voters in the March 11, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections”, he said.

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The All progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has described call for the cancellation of the ongoing presidential election by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as frivolous, unfounded and baseless, saying it is the ranting of “sore losers who have no respect for democratic values.

APC PCC’s Special Adviser, Media, Communications and Public Affairs, Mr Dele Alake said Obasanjo’s allegations that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) had been compromised and the results being announced are fraudulent were based on “rumours that had no iota of evidence.

The letter reads; “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he was virtually calling for a truncation of the ongoing electoral process and a cancellation of already conducted elections on the basis of frivolous, unfounded and baseless allegations by politicians who are sore losers and have no respect for democratic values.

Obasanjo repeated without the slightest iota of evidence rumours he had picked up that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System had been compromised and that the results of elections being announced are fraudulent. It is tragic that a former President who ought to be a statesman in comportment and speech will recklessly seek to endanger and derail our democratic process for utterly selfish, egoistic and malicious reasons. He offers not a single credible piece of evidence to prove his laughable and ridiculous allegations against INEC and the credibility of the ongoing process.

Of course, we are all aware that Obasanjo is not an impartial and disinterested party as far as this election is concerned. On January 1, 2023, he had issued a characteristically lengthy epistle to Nigerians endorsing the candidacy of Mr Peter Obi and asking Nigerian youths to vote en masse for him. Of course our reaction  was that the former President was entitled to his view and that the outcome of the elections would demonstrate if he had any electoral value. As fate would have it, Peter Obi was defeated even in Obasanjo’s own polling unit in Abeokuta in Ogun State. But it is now obvious that the only election Obasanjo will agree to being free, fair and credible is one that produces Obi as winner which is ridiculous.

Is Obasanjo also querying the outcome of the presidential elections in Lagos or Delta where Obi won? If the outcome in Lagos won by Obi is free and credible, on what basis is he querying the outcome of the elections in other places? This is pure mischief and sheer hypocrisy. Obasanjo wants President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in an undemocratic manner to truncate the ongoing political process just the way he did most shamelessness in the 2003 and 2007 elections widely described as the worst in our political history. Luckily, President Buhari is made of finer and more principled democratic stuff. He will not allow Obasanjo to lure him into tainting his democratic credentials in this regard. We recall that in his last trip to the United States, President Joe Biden praised Buhari ‘s commitment to democratic values and principles. Obasanjo has no such record to be applauded. The world has not forgotten his fraudulent and undemocratic attempt at a third term agenda in violation of the letter and spirit of the Nigerian constitution.

This is an election in which ASIWAJU Tinubu, for instance, has lost in  Lagos state in his South West region while Atiku and Obi have also won elections outside their own regional bases. No true democrat must seek an abortion of the process just because he believes the elections are not going his way. What Obasanjo is subtly calling for in his nefarious statement is a coup against democracy and the constitution. He should be roundly condemned and severely ignored. The constitution has stipulated processes for seeking redress against electoral malpractices in the past and these have been tested several times and used to redress electoral injustice where such has been proven. Nigerians must reject Obasanjo’s dubious and hypocritical advice and stay strictly and firmly on the path of constitutionalism and democratic due process.

Signed

DELE ALAKE

Special Adviser, Media, Communications and Public Affairs, APC PCC.

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Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took “blood money” to manipulate the results of the presidential election.

Obasanjo, in a statement, titled: “2023 Nigeria Presidential Election-An Appeal for caution and rectification,” called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make a statement because he had opportunity to keep him aware of what he knew was happening and the danger looming ahead.

“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

“Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.

“It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored. The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice,” he said.

According to Obasanjo, at this stage, “we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.

“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.

“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.”

Obasanjo added: ” Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.

“To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday. Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised.

“Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC. On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise. When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation. The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his ivory tower. Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.

“Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted. I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.”

Read the letter here:

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The senator also thanked people of the state for overwhelmingly voting for Sen. Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate in Saturday’s elections.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, expressed the appreciation while speaking at a thanksgiving service held at Babamuboni Memorial Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti on Sunday.

Bamidele was accompanied to the church service by his wife, Yemisi, family members, friends and political associates.

While thanking God for victory at the polls, he also sought the support and prayers of all sons and daughters of the state for the task ahead.

Sunrise reports that Bamidele was earlier declared winner of the senatorial election by the INEC Collation Officer for Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Prof. Sola Omotola at the State Results Collation Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

He polled 69,351 to defeat his close rival, Lateef Ajijola of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 26,181.

“My main purpose of coming here today is to give thanks to Almighty God for His amazing grace over my life and family and for the success of yesterday’s National Assembly and Presidential Election.

“I also thank God for making me to win the election in a landslide manner.

“I appreciate all our people in Ekiti Central Senatorial District and the Church of God. I am indebted to the Church leadership for their continued prayers and support, ” Bamidele said.

He said he also came to seek spiritual blessings and benediction for the tasks ahead.

In his remarks, the church vicar, Ven. Oluwasola Adekola, said Bamidele’s victory was well-deserved based on his track records of performance in his previous political positions especially in the 9th Senate.

Adekola said the senator had brought dividends of democracy to the people of his senatorial district in the last four years.

He, therefore, prayed for more grace, God’s protection and wisdom for Bamidele to enable him perform more excellently in his second tenure in the senate. (NAN)

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Daniel, popularly called as OGD was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Sunday.

The former governor polled 115,147 votes to defeat other candidates, according to the results of the election announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Christopher Onwuka, at the Ogun East Senatorial Collation Centre in Itoro Hall, Ijebu-Ode.

Daniel cleared all the nine local government areas in the senatorial district, including Ijebu North, Odogbolu, Remo North, Sagamu, Ijebu North East, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu East, Ikenne and Ogun Waterside.

A breakdown of the results showed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second in the senatorial election, polling 58,708 votes while the Labour Party (LP) followed with 13,061 votes.

Having satisfied the requirements of the law and polled the highest number of votes, Otunba Daniel was declared winner of the election.

The post Daniel bounces back, wins Ogun East senatorial seat appeared first on Sunrise News.

Addressing journalists at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, the Labour Party’s national Chairman Barrister Julius Abure said the party is demanding the cancellation of the ongoing collation exercise because of glaring infractions and electoral malpractices which has compromised the outcomes of the election

Abure said the Labour Party has received complaint that many party agents are even forced to sign election result sheets under duress contrary to the provision of the Electoral Act.

He said the party has recorded electoral malpractices is being recorded in the input of result from states like Lagos, Rivers Edo and Delta States, adding that the manner of the malpractices gives a cause for concern, forcing the party to demand strongly the cancellation of the ongoing collation.

 He said the party is calling on international observers to urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the results of the election as it no longer elicits the confidence of Nigerians who had looked forward to this being the freest, fairest and most credible election.

He said the decision of INEC to go ahead and continue to announce the doctored report has defeated the purpose of electronic transmission of results and have defeated the huge investment of public funds in delivering credible election.

He said the Labour Party has very good reason to reject the election results in its entirety as not reflecting the wishes of Nigerians who had invested their time and resources to getting a new Nigeria.

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Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has commended the people of the state for their peaceful conduct in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, and for voting en masse for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC National Assembly candidates.

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on Sunday noon declared winner of the election in Ekiti State, having polled a total 201, 484 votes to defeat other candidates in the Presidential election held across the 16 local government areas of the state on Saturday. The APC Candidate was trailed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) with 89, 554 and  11, 397 votes respectively.

The Ekiti State Presidential Election Collation Officer, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, announced the results at INEC Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Oyebanji described the APC victory as a reflection of the love the generality of the people have for the party as well as a re-affirmation of the mandate given to him and the party during the June 18, 2022 governorship election.

The Governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said he owed the Ekiti electorate a debt of gratitude for standing with him, the party’s presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the National Assembly candidates.

He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the efficiency demonstrated during the election, which he said was an improvement in previous elections.

“Special thanks to Ekitikete for their peaceful conduct during Saturday’s election and for supporting and ensuring victory for our Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all our Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates.

“The Ekiti electorates have continue to conduct themselves in a very peaceful and honourable manner and yesterday was another remarkably peaceful outing. I thank you all for voting massively for Asiwaju Tinubu and all our candidates as promised, even as we look forward to witnessing greater level of development and prosperity in our state.

“We also thank INEC for the remarkable improvement in the conduct of the election. The security agencies were also superb in their conduct and deserve our commendation.

“Special thanks to all our traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders, union leaders, leaders of associations, leaders of professional groups, market leaders, artisans and all political party leaders for ensuring that our state remain peaceful during and after the election. You are the real winners.”, the Governor added.

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Election management consultants and civil society activists among them the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa Samson Itodo was on Channels Television where he called out the electoral umpire to come clean and explain to Nigerians what went wrong with he Bimodal Verification System (BVAS) the device used in the election.

According to Itodo, even during the off season election in Ekiti and Osun, results are already hitting the IREV portal as early as 7pm.

Channels Televion reported that as at 12.40am people are till at several polling units across the country exercising their franchise.

Even at the National Collation Centre, Abuja, some of the Returning Officers are just arriving but nothing is yet to be done.

Itodo said he expects INEC to come up later on Sunday with a statement on what caused the delay in the uploading of results to the IREV portal so as to build assurance of Nigerians on the outcomes of the election.  

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