Several members of the People’s National Convention (PNC) aspiring to contest the party’s flagbearer position have strongly opposed the hundred thousand cedis (GHC100,000) filing fee.
Former General Secretary, Bernard Mornah and Sampson Asaki Awingobit are among those who question the logic behind a party aiming to attract more voters raising its filing fees, potentially discouraging candidates from contesting.
During the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting last week, the PNC opened nominations for various party positions. This meeting was the first since the party’s General Secretary departed to revive the People’s National Party (PNP).
The NEC set the filing fee for the flagbearer position at GHC100,000, doubling the previous fee of GHC50,000. Additionally, potential parliamentary aspirants must pay GHC10,000 for nomination forms, also a 100% increase.
The announcement of these fees has sparked controversy among party members interested in the flagbearer position.
Bernard Mornah, a former General Secretary, expressed concern that a financially constrained party like the PNC would raise filing fees, thereby preventing capable individuals from running.
He questioned the rationale behind the significant fee hike, noting that traditionally, filing fees have not been a primary source of party funding.
He asked, “over the years, it is not filing fees that has been used to finance activities of the party so why this huge increment?”
He further indicated that, “If left with me alone, I can afford GH¢110k, but the situation is that we are seeking to make the party attractive and we expected that things will be right for everybody who can contest without money becoming a barrier.”
Sampson Asaki Awingobit echoed Mornah’s concerns, stating that the NEC’s decision to raise the filing fees was inappropriate.
The People’s National Convention aspires to become a significant force in the country’s political arena. However, members argue that more inclusive measures are needed to achieve this goal.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has issued a statement urging the public to disregard any claims suggesting that it spent $150 million on acquiring Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) and Biometric Voter Registration Kits (BVRs) in 2020.
The EC’s response follows allegations made by Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, in several articles, alleging that the election management body spent $150 million on BVDs.
In the statement released on Friday, April 26, the EC clarified that prior to the circulation of the $150 million figure, the cost of the BVDs and BVRs procured by the commission in 2020 was quoted at $300 million.
“In fact, the total cost for 74,500 BVDs, 8,500 BVRs, a new data centre and a data recovery centre amounted to $68, 661,912.67.”
However, the EC clarified that the total cost for 74,500 BVDs, 8,500 BVRs, a new data center, and a data recovery center amounted to $68,661,912.67.
Furthermore, the EC explained that in June 2018, the previous administration of the commission budgeted and received approval to invest $56 million for the refurbishment of BVDs and BVRs, a Data Center, and security enhancements under the voter registration and voter verification projects.
The contract was aimed at the 2018 referendum and District Level Elections (DLE), including refurbishing 1,670 BVR kits and procuring 1,000 new BVDs for the Voter Registration project, and refurbishing 46,200 BVDs and acquiring 10,000 new BVDs for the Voter Verification Project.
However, the current administration of the Commission decided to cancel the contract for total refurbishment and procurement of new BVDs, opting for a minimal maintenance arrangement.
“The contract was specifically geared towards the conduct of the 2018 referendum and District Level Elections (DLE). The Voter Registration project included the refurbishment of 1,670 BVR kits and the procurement of 1,000 new BVDs while the Voter Verification Project included the refurbishment of 46,200 BVDs as well as the acquisition of 10,000 new BVDs.”
“However, the current administration of the Commission made a strategic decision to cancel the contract for the total refurbishment and the procurement of new BVDs, opting for a minimal maintenance arrangement,” it further stated.
In 2020, based on the experience with the equipment in the 2019 DLE, the current Commission applied for and received approval from the PPA to acquire new BVDs, BVRs, a Data Center, and a Data Recovery Center.
On Thursday, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is scheduled to appear before the Presidential Election Petition Court.
This information was disclosed by Chris Uche, SAN, the lead counsel representing Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their ongoing petition.
The petition, registered as CA/PEPC/05/2023, challenges the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25, which declared President Bola Tinubu as the winner. The respondents in the case include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the hearing, Uche informed the court that the INEC chairman would testify about the conduct of the disputed presidential election. Uche also expressed his desire for the respondents, particularly Tinubu and the APC, to be prepared and not caught off guard.
Before Prof. Yakubu’s appearance, the petitioners presented their 19th witness, Alex Ter, who is a lawyer, politician, and the National Coordinator of the PDP’s National Situation Room.
However, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, representing INEC, objected when the witness was about to adopt multiple statements. Mahmoud argued that the petitioners’ reply on the additional statements was not pleaded in accordance with the provisions of the law. He requested the court to dismiss it and uphold the objection. Mahmoud also stated that their detailed reasons for the objections would be communicated during the final addresses.
In response, Uche, representing the petitioners, informed the court that the objections raised by INEC had been argued, and the ruling on them was reserved by the court.
“Whatever objection that INEC has should be kept aside, “ Uche said.
He therefore, urged the court to overrule the objection and allow the process go on.
He told the court that they are tendering Manual for the conduct of the 2023 election.
He said he will be tendering video clips of broadcast, by the chairman of INEC on the preparation for the election and that of Festus Okoye National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC on the election.
The also said that he will be tendering European Union (EU) election observers mission broadcast alongside the transcripts and the certificates of authenticity of the three videos.
He said this was pursuant to Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
He also tendered INEC I-reV screen shots of the portal as of March 18 and March 19.
Also tendered was I-reV results portal at the pulling units of March 1 and the transcripts and certificates of authenticity.
INEC did not object but Tinubu and APC objected, but all the respondents reserved their responses until their final written addresses.
Under cross examination by INEC’s lawyer, Mahmoud, the witness admitted that he was not at the National Collation Center but was at the PDP situation room in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also admitted not being an ICT experts but that he based his report from information obtained from agents of the PDP at the collation centers.
The witness faulted INEC for not transmitting presidential election results electronically, adding that calculation errors led the electoral body into grave errors .
Also cross examined by Akin Olujimi SAN, counsel for Tinubu, the witness said that he came to the conclusion that the presidential election was invalid by reason of corrupt electoral practices as related to him by PDP agents.
Testifying as the petitioners ‘ 20th witness (PW20) was Olutunji Shelle.
He alleged during cross examination by INEC counsel that there were some secret pulling units set up by APC in Lagos.
He however said he did not visit any.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioners have called 20 witnesses so far out of 100 the told the court their would call.
Meanwhile, the five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned until tomorrow for further hearing of the petition.
Mike Igini, a former Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for INEC, has claimed that the UK brought election manipulation to the Nigerian political system.
Igini noted that the UK has no post-election adjudication court, whereas Nigerians are in court today over the election outcome.
Igini stated this while on Arise Television’s Morning Show program on Friday, where he was fielding questions about the conduct of the just concluded 2023 general elections
He said, ”What I want Nigerians to know is that whatever we make of this country, that is what it will become. It is clearly in our hands because, in this country, Nigeria, with all the human and material resources, all that’s required is leadership.
”Today, we are now in Court over the election that has been conducted. It should be noted that the United Kingdom, UK, that today is one of the countries that our people are going to; in short, after Nigeria, they go to the UK. It should be noted that even the UK, which introduced Nigeria to election rigging for a period of 99 years, almost a hundred years, had no post-election adjudication in the United Kingdom.”
On Sunday, Yiaga Africa reported that the Governorship and State Assembly elections were successfully conducted thanks to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing platform (IReV).
At a news conference in Abuja about the governorship and state assembly elections backed by the European Union through its Support to Democratic Government in Nigeria program, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, a board member of Yiaga Africa, made this statement (EU-SDGN).
Yiaga Africa, according to Nwagwu, applauded INEC for the great improvement in the administration of election logistics, particularly the early start of voting thanks to the election officials’ fast arrival in most polling places.
“Unlike the Feb. 25 presidential election, the INEC Election Results Viewing (IReV) portal functioned optimally in this election, enabling citizens to download polling unit-level results.
“Electronic accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was successfully implemented in a significant number of polling units observed by Yiaga Africa.
“Yiaga Africa calls on INEC to ensure proper oversight of the results collation process and ensure that results declared under duress or in breach of the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines or Manual, are reviewed in line with Section 65 of the Electoral Act.”
Nwagwu said as INEC continued to collate results, citizens, candidates and supporters are encouraged to remain calm and peaceful, and reject any call for violence.
He said that only INEC has the legal mandate to announce the election results and return a candidate as a winner.
“We urge all stakeholders to respect the commission’s constitutional power and refrain from declaring election results.”
Nwagwu said that Yiaga Africa observers noted that the Governorship and State Assembly elections were signposted with voter suppression, electoral violence, electoral impunity, vote buying and capture of the results management by political thugs.
This, he said, were in Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, and Taraba states.
He said that Yiaga Africa was saddened by the cases of attacks on voters, INEC officials, journalists, election observers and personnel of the EFCC by political thugs.
“Reports also indicate that at least eight fatalities were recorded within the last 24 hrs.
“These election-related deaths are unacceptable and highly condemnable. It is important for security agencies to hold the political thugs and their sponsors accountable for these deaths and attacks.”
He said that Yiaga Africa condemned, in unequivocal terms, acts of voter suppression fuelled by ethnic profiling, political thuggery and desperation to secure electoral victory at all costs.
He said that in flagrant abuse of the constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, registered voters and fellow citizens were denied the right to vote in some states.
“On Professional Conduct, Yiaga Africa received reports that security personnel were unprofessional and partisan in 26 polling units observed.
“Yiaga Africa received reports that polling officials were unprofessional and partisan in 21 polling units observed.”
Nwagwu reported that Yiaga Africa validated 216 critical occurrences on Election Day, March 18, during the course of the day, which is more than was observed in the polls on February 25.
Intimidation and harassment at voting places, violent disturbance, ballot box snatching and destruction, results manipulation during collation, and obstruction of election observation, according to him, have all occurred.
According to Nwagwu, Yiaga Africa got 44 allegations of people bribing people to vote with money or by giving them food.
Thus, he said, Yiaga Africa urged the members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to make sure that security personnel were deployed in a sufficient and effective manner at the collation centers.
He added that Yiaga Africa called on political parties, their supporters and voters across the states to remain calm and peaceful as the results collation process is still ongoing.
The Lagos State governorship election was won by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party with a total vote total of 762,134.
Whereas Abdulazeez Adeniran of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, received 62,449 votes, the LP candidate received 312,329 votes.
The results were announced by the Returning Officer, Prof Adenike Temifayo-Oladiji, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA.
The number of valid votes were 1,155,678; rejected votes – 17,953; total votes cast – 1,173,631; accredited votes – 1,182,620.
Before the declaration, Rhodes-Vivour called the election a sham, alleging “collusion between the ruling party and electoral officials”.
The flagbearer said what the people witnessed was “a slap on the face of democracy” and everyone who came out to vote for the LP on Saturday.
“In the light of this, I am convinced beyond any doubt that the results being released by INECdo not represent the wishes of the majority of peaceful Lagosians.
“More so the results from our field agents and situation room indicated that we won this election,” Rhodes-Vivour added.
LP Chairman in Lagos, Mrs. Dayo Ekong had asked INEC to cancel the poll, citing electoral malpractices, intimidation, violence, among others.
Segun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) around the Lekki area of the state.
Agbaje made the announcement when he addressed reporters at the VGC, corps members deployed as and-hoc staff were hesitant to enter the estate as they alleged that they were held hostage in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to Agbaje, voting materials were set up in front of the estate on Saturday but the estate residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process, so they did not feel secure and could not cast their votes.
The INEC Commissioner explained that he’s in the area alongside his team because the situation was difficult for security agents to contain.
He said, “We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters and out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs,” he stated, adding that two other polling units at the estate’s main gate were also affected. “Eight here (in the estate) and two outside,” he noted.
“After due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30am to conduct the elections.
“By 08:30am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”
According to him, safety of corps members, INEC staff and voters has been assured by the chairman of the security committee of the estate.
Some of the polling units affected include PU 032,033, 119 -124.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Mahmood Yakubu, has acknowledged that the recently ended presidential elections had problems.
He made this statement while discussing the commission’s electoral performance at the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections during a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners.
Professor Yakubu acknowledged that issues with logistics, security, technology, and staff conduct hampered the poll.
The head of INEC claims that lessons have been learned from the election and is optimistic that the upcoming governorship election would be more successful.
“The planning for the election, the implementation came with challenges some of them unforeseen, a lot of lessons have been learnt.
As we approach the governorship state assembly election, we must work harder to overcome the challenges we experienced in the last election. Nothing else will be acceptable to Nigerians,” he said.
Following the presidential election that took place on Saturday, February 25, there were reports of illegalities, malpractices and among other complaints.
However, the INEC has said it will ensure those challenges are dealt with before the governorship election which is set to hold on Saturday, March 11.
Social media is still buzzing with messages from many indicating that they do not accept Bola Tinubuas President despite The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC)’s announcement on March 1, 2023.
Several Nigerians have expressed disappointment in the verdict as they are convinced the commission was not transparent with the process.
Below are the tweets shared:
Bolanle Olukanni tells CNN that the Nigerian presidential election was not conducted fairly and INEC is misleading the public. #Obiiscoming
If we Nigerians allow INEC & APC to impose a president on us, then no Nigerian has the right to challenge SOUTH AFRICA,GHANA or any other country for xenophobia. And no Nigerian has right to question any Nigerian Media for not speaking up. We must take back our Country.! #protestpic.twitter.com/2EXwiTrYwT
Nigerian celebrities have reacted on their individual social media profiles after Bola Tinubu was named Nigeria’s president-elect.
Bola Tinubu was named victor of the 2023 general election by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on March 1st.
In order to win, Tinubu defeated his top rivals, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.
A section of Nigerians are sad and disappointed in the verdict given by the INEC authorities.
A reason some celebrities have since taken to social media to share their thoughts on the development.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party have been urged by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to exclude it from their conflict with the Independent National Election Commission (INEC).
The electoral commission has been accused by the two parties of being unfair since its agents left the collation center as the presidential results were being announced.
The leaders of the two parties, including Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, demanded that Mahmoud Yakubu, the head of INEC, step down and that the results collation be suspended.
But the ADC, in a statement signed by its Board of Trustees Chairperson, Patricia Akwashiki, said the party has never been part of the fight.
It also asked the two parties to delist its name from those partaking in the fight against INEC.
“They demanded that the INEC Chairman step down from his position and that fresh elections should be conducted,” she said.
According to Mrs Akwashiki, the former ADC party chairman doesn’t have the right to decide the future of the party since he is no longer its leader.
“This is not the position of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Ralph Nwosu who is the immediate past Chairman of the ADC does not speak for the ADC and cannot speak for the ADC.
“We cannot be a party to any action that will undermine the integrity of INEC or lead to a breakdown of law and order. When the final results are announced by INEC, we will have an informed reaction. The ADC will not be a party to any attempt to truncate the ongoing electoral process. All parties to this process must remain law abiding and remember that the Electoral Act clearly spells out guidelines for redress,” she added.
All Nigerians have recieved a promise from president-elect, President-elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that regardless of their party affiliations, citizens would smile under his leadership.
In his acceptance speech, delivered at the office of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday morning, he made the commitment.
Along with Vice-President-elect Senator Kashim Shettima, Tinubu is scheduled to pick up his Certificate of Return today from the Independent National Electoral Commission Collation Centre within the International Convention Centre.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC and Chief Return Officer for the presidential election, announced Tinubu as the winner early on Wednesday morning after he had met all legal requirements.
The President elect in a prepared speech titled, ” The Era of Renewed Hope,” commended the “INEC for running a free and fair election. “
Acknowledging irregularities in the process, the President elect assured Nigerians that the electoral process would witness appreciable improvement with time.
“We commend INEC for running a free and fair election. The lapses that did occur were relatively few in number and were immaterial to the final outcome. With each cycle of elections, we steadily perfect this process so vital to our democratic life.
“Today, Nigeria stands tall as the giant of Africa. It shines even brighter as the continent’s biggest democracy.”
Commending other presidential candidates for believing in democracy, Tinubu who maintained that he would be willing to run an inclusive government however cautioned aggrieved candidates and their supporters to abandon the streets and seek legal recourse in the Court of law.
“I am grateful to Almighty God. By His mercy, I was born a son of Nigeria and through His sublime purpose I find myself the victor of this election. May He grant me the wisdom and courage to lead the nation to the greatness He alone has destined for it.
“Finally, I thank the Nigerian people for their abiding belief in our democracy. I shall be a fair leader to all Nigerians. I will be in tune with your aspirations, charge up your energies and harness your talents to deliver a nation that we can be proud of.
“To my fellow candidates, former VP Atiku, former governor Kwankwaso, former governor Obi and all others, I extend the hand of friendship. This was a competitive, high-spirited campaign.
“You have my utmost respect.
“Political competition must now give way to political conciliation and inclusive governance.
“During the election, you may have been my opponent but you were never my enemy. In my heart, you are my brothers.
“Still, I know some candidates will be hard put to accept the election results. It is your right to seek legal recourse. What is neither right nor defensible is for anybody to resort to violence. Any challenge to the electoral outcome should be made in a court of law, and not in the streets.
“I also ask my supporters to let peace reign and tensions fade. We ran a principled, peaceful and progressive campaign. The aftermath of our campaign must be as benign.
“Yes, there are divisions amongst us that should not exist. Many people are uncertain, angry and hurt; I reach out to every one of you. Let the better aspects of our humanity step forward at this fateful moment. Let us begin to heal and bring calm to our nation.”
Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, made the declaration in the early hours of today.
Social media has been awash with mixed reactions from several Nigerians as they expressed their feelings on his emergence.
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, expressed delight at his emergence, describing it as “resounding, historic and well-deserved.”
“Congrats to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) for a resounding, historic & well-deserved victory after a hard-fought fight. We give the Lord praise and thanksgiving for what He has done. He is mighty in battle and faithful to His own. To Him alone be the glory.”
Prof. Charles Adias, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s designated collation officer for the presidential election in Nigeria’s Rivers State, has put the process on hold due to alleged threats to his life.
At the start of collation at the INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday morning, Prof. Adias, who is also the vice chancellor of the Federal University in Bayelsa State, revealed that the threats were from members of a specific political party.
He stated, “I have been receiving threats, messages and calls to my life and that of my family for two days now. My picture is all over the social media that I was sent to rig the elections in Rivers State.
“Every hour, I receive more than one million calls of threats to my life and other things. I hereby stand down collation until the INEC and security agencies can guarantee my safety to continue this national assignment.”
State collation officer for the presidential election (SCOPs) in Rivers State, Prof Charles Adias has posponed the collation of results for February 25, 2023 election over an alleged threat on his life by anonymous party supporters.
The official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otueke announced the adjournment on Tuesday morning while addressing journalists at the State Collation Centre in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Although the Commissioner of Police of the Presidential Election in Rivers, Aderemi Adeoye, appealed to the SCOPs to reveal the names of those threatening his life, Adias insisted that he won’t proceed until the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state addressed some of the issues those threatening him raised include that f faulty Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
So far, results from 21 local government areas have been collated. Results are expected from two local government areas – Obio-Akpor and Degema.
The two remaining LGAs are those of Governor Nyesom Wike and his Deputy, Ipalibo Banigo. While Wike hails from Obio-Akpor, his Deputy is from Degema LGA.
The results of the presidential elections in Bauchi state have been announced, with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning.
Prof. Abulkarim Sabo Mohammed, the state’s presidential returning officer from Federal University, Dutse in Jigawa State, made the announcement on Monday night at the Mahmud Yakubu Conference Hall, Bauchi State’s INEC office.
The Retuning officer declared that after collating results from the 20 LGAs of the state, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar won the Presidential election in Bauchi after polling a total of 426,607 votes.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu polled a total of 316,694 while the NNPP and its candidate polled a total of 72,103 just as the LP and its candidate polled a total of 27,373 votes.
He gave the total of Registered voters in the state as 2,749,268; accredited voters: for the Election was 899,769 while the total valid votes was 853,516, rejected votes were 29,030 and total votes cast 882,546.
As a result of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) annulling the results from polling places in the Bwari and Abaji Area Councils, the Labour Party’s (LP) senatorial candidate, Hajia Ireti Kingibe, has alleged that there was a conspiracy to rig the election.
Remember that the results from the two Area Councils were canceled due to over-voting, according to Professor Sani Saka, INEC’s Collation Officer for the senatorial election in the FCT.
It was gathered that the total number of accredited voters was 21,473, while the number of vote cast stood at 21,903.
Professor Saka said “the total number of valid voters cast is more than the number of accredited votes, we are cancelling this result for over-voting.
Kingibe while speaking with journalists at her residence said due to error on the total vote cast, the returning officer alleged over-voting and cancelled election results in the Area Councils.
“I am being told that the person that was writing the result 2 plus 2 equal to 5, the judges said it is over voting, the electoral officer said it is an error from from that person whether he did it on purpose or accidentally, all the results sheet shows that there was no over voting in any of the polling units, so how can you now cancel all the Area Councils”, she said.
While alleging that thugs attacked some collation centres without being arrested, she said she will stand her ground and ensure that the right thing is done.
“I am going to the collation centre to let them know that we are not standing for this, we have watched them, they cancel polling units where we are strong, thugs go to INEC collation centre, the tear electoral materials.
“Thugs went to Gwarimpa collation centre, they attacked the people there, they tore presidential result sheets, they went away.
“Fortunately, the Returning Officer had most of the results with her. They have been looking for reasons to cancel Osuma, Bwari, those are all our strongholds, they couldn’t, then suddenly they found an error on the total votes, they said it is over voting, the Electoral Officer told them it is not over voting, it is an error on from whoever wrote it, you cannot penalise the candidate for it, look at the result sheet, you will see that there is no over voting on any of them, they said it is not their job to look at result sheets, what kind of a country are we in.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, has slammed former president Olusegun Obasanjo over his call for cancellation of some results of Saturday’s presidential election on the grounds of fraud.
In an open letter on Monday, Obasanjo had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel results that fail to “pass the credibility and transparency test” and schedule a fresh election for March 4, 2023.
The former president warned that failure by President Buhari and the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, to act may pose serious danger for the country as tensions are already building up.
But responding through a spokesperson of his campaign organization, Dele Alake, Tinubu described Obasanjo’s request as “reckless” while further accusing him of seeking to “endanger and derail our democratic process for utterly selfish, egoistic and malicious reasons.”
Part of Tinubu’s response reads: “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 shamelessly 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.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has been criticised for rating Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) above Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC).
According to General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen time has proven the former president wrong in his assertion and thus, he described Mr Mahama’s claims as “ridiculous and so childish”.
He noted that Mr Mahama’s problem with the EC has to do with the sacking of the former chairperson, Madam Charlotte Osei.
“On the very day Charlotte Osei was sacked as EC boss, he refused to have faith in the commission.”
“If it isn’t NDC that would direct our elections, he doesn’t have faith in it. He wants to say if it isn’t Charlotte Osei or Afari Gyan, then he considers all other persons to come from Satan”, he said in an interview on pro-NPP Wontumi Radio on Monday February 27, 2023.
Former President Mahama on the eve of Nigeria’s presidential elections held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, called out the EC led by Jean Adukwei Mensa for failing to inspire confidence.
According to him, the posture of the Electoral Commission unlike the INEC which has gained the confidence of Nigeria’s electoral stakeholders has rather been hostile towards his party, the National Democratic Congress.
“One thing that has struck me in my pre-election mission in Nigeria for the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) is the confidence all the candidates and parties have expressed in the Independent Electoral Commission.
“They all testify that INEC has listened and taken their concerns on board.
“Unfortunately, I can’t say same for my Electoral Commission (EC), which was once among the best election management agencies in the world.
“The hostility of the Chairperson of the EC and her other Commissioners to one political party is legendary. How I wish our own EC can inspire the same level of confidence in all its stakeholders,” Mr Mahama said.
Despite his wish, Mr Mahama said he shares no hope of the situation in Ghana getting any better.
“Regrettably, I am not hopeful this will happen when we have an EC that has blatantly spurned all efforts by the National Peace Council to host a meeting between the Commission and the two major political parties, the NDC and NPP,” the former president said.
Founder and general overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Pastor Paul Enenche, has compared the political thugs of some desperate Nigerians seeking political power to animals because of their alleged role in sabotaging the peaceful conduct of the 2023 presidential election.
During his talk at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre on Sunday, the man of God compared it to the recently ongoing election.
He asserts that the actions taken by some political figures and their goons during the election were akin to those that are typical of the animal kingdom.
The man of God remarked, “Despite the patriotism, zeal, and determination of the people to vote for a candidate, there were certain irregularities throughout the election,” regretting some of them.
He said, “Unfortunately, the human demons in our custody and their lunatic agents in various parts of the country didn’t allow for a peaceful and just election in those places. Videos recordings of their misdeeds were flying from Lagos, Rivers, Kogi, Anambra, Abuja, e.t.c, with thugs at the helm of affairs in certain units.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakub on Sunday declared opened the National Collation Centre for Presidential and National Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday, February 23, 2023.
Declaring the Centre opened on Sunday afternoon at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja hours after the election elections commenced and concluded in some polling units, the INEC boss said only the Commission is empowered to release election results.
He also acknowledged some of the challenges witnessed in some states seeing the Commission will look into all the cases.
Yakubu explained that the collation process is a four-step approach and every of the proceeding will be held in the open.
Meanwhile, the Centre has since adjourned till 6pm later today.
The presidential and NASS elections were held simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.
Collation of results was still at various stages, some at the registration areas, federal constituency, senatorial district and local government collation centres.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council has urgedPresident Muhammadu Buhariand the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to summon Bola Tinubu to order after a newspaper company allegedly owned by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate claimed that Tinubu would lead in three geopolitical zones on Saturday’s election.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Dele Momodu, Director of Strategic Communications of the council, it described the publication as reckless.
The council pointed out that Tinubu is the only mainstream presidential candidate in the election whose base was decimated by the opposition, saying that its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is the only one with national spread.
The statement noted how Tinubu tried to bully Buhari to abandon his cashless policy, noting that the APC flag-bearer however succeeded in intimidating the President to display his ballot paper confirming that he voted for him.
The statement reads: “Our attention has just been drawn to the recklessly dangerous publication unilaterally awarding an impossible victory to the APC Presidential candidate Chief Bola Tinubu. The said newspaper is owned by Tinubu.
“Only yesterday, we all saw how thugs of the APC Chieftains and his allies took over the streets of Lagos burning ballot boxes and documents and generally misbehaving in other to disenfranchise the determined electorates.
“Despite all of these ugly attempts at stealing victory, the APC suffered its worst cataclysmic loss in most of the polling centres in Lagos. The same happened in Kano.
“Incapable of ever being sobered by the crushing humiliation in its traditional territories, we woke up this morning to read about the pathetic and illegal lies cooked up by the Tinubu media goons.
“Tinubu remains the only mainstream candidate whose home base of South West was decimated by opposition parties in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti.
“Most of the Northern Governors he also expected to help him garner votes in the Northern regions failed spectacularly to deliver the badly needed votes. He failed in the South East and South-South.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results viewing page has accepted election results for the Saturday presidential and national assembly elections.
The local media earlier reported some concerned Nigerians had called out the Commission for flouting promise made on uploading results of elections in different polling units across the country as they are sorted, counted, and collated.
Recall on November 22, the INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmoud, said there is no going back on its decision to upload the results of the 2023 general elections on its portal to enable Nigerians to have a real-time view of the results as they are being collated.
Large crowds of Nigerians hoping for a fresh start after years of escalating violence and hardship under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari were not deterred, despite the lengthy delays and scattered acts of violence that took place on Saturday in Africa’s most populous country.
The official results could be anticipated late on Sunday, according to the electoral commission. By the time it was time to count the votes, some polling places had already closed, while others were still accepting votes.
Now, Sunday is anticipated to see some voting.
Regardless of the outcome, numerous crises will arise.
Africa’s biggest democracy is struggling with rebels in the northeast, an epidemic of kidnappings for ransom, conflict between herders and farmers, shortages of cash, fuel and power, as well as deep-rooted corruption and poverty.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the outgoing administration have been credited for the ongoing cash and fuel crisis that has paralysed economic activity nationwide. Voters said they were showing their dissatisfaction at the polls.
“Everything that has happened in the past eight years has [been] draining for me,” Oyinkan Daramola, 29, told Al Jazeera. She declined to disclose whom she has voted for out of fear of possible reprisals but hinted at a disdain for the two dominant parties.
This was a common feeling in various locations visited by Al Jazeera across six local government areas in Lagos.
“We cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” Daramola said.
Buhari, a retired army general, is stepping down after serving the maximum eight years allowed by the constitution. The main contenders to succeed him are former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, 70, of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 76, of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, 61, of the smaller Labour Party.
All three voted in their home states, surrounded by chaotic scrums of reporters and supporters.
Some states were expected to announce results on Sunday, and the final tally from all 36 states plus the federal capital Abuja was expected within five days of voting. National Assembly seats are also on the ballot in this election.
“Polling units in a number of areas closed and sorting and counting of ballot papers have commenced,” Mahmood Yakubu, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, said in a press briefing on Saturday evening.
Voting delays
In Mpape, a largely undeveloped but densely populated district within the capital territory, hundreds of weary voters were seen waiting to cast their votes.
“I’ve been here since 7am today just to vote. I came before the INEC officials even got here, and yet, I’m not ready to leave here until I have voted,” a 45-year-old school teacher, who gave her name only as Patricia, told Al Jazeera at approximately 3pm local time (14:00 GMT). She was one of nearly 700 people waiting to vote.
At 7pm (18:00 GMT), she was still in the queue, waiting her turn.
“I had to go home to feed my family, but I am back now,” she said. She was number 409 on the list of voters standing in the rain to cast their votes.
In Wuye District, a neighbourhood to the west of Abuja city centre, more than 100 people, mostly young, were seen still waiting to vote at nearly 8pm local time (19:00 GMT).
Officials from INEC cited technical problems with a new biometric antifraud voter accreditation system, the late arrival of vehicles to transport them and the absence of voter registers as causes of delays.
“It is frustrating that INEC are not prepared for us. All we want is just to vote,” said Sylvester Iwu, who was among a large crowd waiting at a polling station in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State in the southern oil-producing Niger Delta.
In a televised news briefing, INEC’s Yakubu said six biometric machines had been stolen in northern Katsina State and two in southern Delta State. He also acknowledged the delays but said voters would be able to cast their ballots.
“The election will hold, and no one will be disenfranchised,” he said.
Yakubu said at a later briefing that voting would take place on Sunday in several wards in Yenagoa that had experienced severe disruption on Saturday.
Morayo Ajayi, a 22-year-old undergraduate student in Akwa Ibom, said she is determined to vote for her candidate no matter how late it got.
“I don’t care if I have to sleep here, but I’m going vote for Peter Obi today,” she said. “Of course, I’ve been waiting for hours, but I don’t mind the wait. I will see this to the end,” she said.
Many youths across Nigeria are supporting the Labour Party’s candidate Peter Obi. Still, the APC’s Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP are widely seen as the candidates to beat
In Elegushi, an affluent area of Lagos, 54-year-old banker Osho Adekunle waited in line for five hours. He is voting for Tinubu because of his “antecedents” in Lagos, a fulcrum on which Tinubu’s supporters based his campaign.
“We that know about the history are not voting on sentiment but on practicality,” he said.
Voter frustration
There were reports of scattered violent incidents on Saturday, though not on the scale seen in previous elections in the country of more than 200 million people.
In northeast Borno State, suspected fighters from the Boko Haram group fired mortar shells in the rural Gwoza area, killing one child, wounding four others and disrupting voting, army sources said.
In Abuja, a team from the anti-corruption Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was attacked by thugs just after arresting a man on suspicion of paying for a group of people’s votes using a banking app, the commission said.
In most areas, however, the day appeared to have unfolded peacefully despite frustrations over the delays.
An INEC official holds up a ballot paper during the counting process at a polling station in Egbeda, Lagos, during Nigeria’s presidential and general election [Benson Ibeabuchi/AFP]
In Aguolu, Obi’s hometown in his native Anambra, voting went smoothly. EFCC officials stopped by to monitor voting there for any possible inducement of voters.
Across parts of Onitsha, Anambra’s commercial capital, and portions of nearby Asaba, the administrative capital of Delta state in the Niger Delta region, many old and young people said they were voting for Obi.
This, despite Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, an Igbo, being deputy governor on the PDP’s ticket alongside Atiku Abubakar, whom Obi ran with in 2019.
“That’s not my problem, ” Emmanuel Edozie-Uno, a 23-year-old student voting for Obi in Asaba, told Al Jazeera. “I voted for Obi.”
In order to reduce crowding in polling places that were deemed to be overcrowded, the electoral authority transferred numerous voters from some polling places to others.
Such reassigned voters were instructed to visit a URL provided by the electoral umpire to confirm the new polling places after INEC informed them via text messages that they had been transferred to units close to their original voting units.
Faulty BVAS has prevented Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his wife, Suzette Eberechi Wike from casting their votes.
The INEC Presiding Officer, at their ward 9, unit 7 voting centre, Agatha Abioku, explained that the BVAS machine was experiencing what she called a general technical challenge.
She however stated that technicians were already on their way to fix the problem and apologized for the delay which lasted for about 25 minutes.
Reacting to the delay, Wike expressed disappointment with INEC saying that the electoral body should have ensured that their machines were in good working condition before bringing them to the field.
Some voting places in Mararaba, Karu local government area of Nasarawa state have reported having no INEC personnel present when the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections got underway.
About fifteen of the voting places our correspondent visited were empty as of 9:45 a.m.
The 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections commenced with the reported absence of INEC officials at various polling units in Mararaba, Karu local government area of Nasarawa state.
As of 9.45 am, no INEC officials were present at about fifteen polling units visited by our correspondent.
A large crowd of voters who trooped out to cast their vote expressed dissatisfaction
about INEC, who could not keep to the 8.30 am scheduled for the commencement of the voting exercise.
Nigerian Tribute also observed that there was no security presence at various polling units visited
However, at the polling unit located at Jaiz bank (polling unit 148), INEC officials arrived at about 9.30 am to commence the conduct of the voting exercise.
Efforts were made to discover the cause of the delayed proof abortive as INEC officials declined to comment.
Also, several voters could not locate their polling units as they were seen moving from one polling unit to another.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama is leading theWest African Elders Forum(WAEF) in Nigeria as the country chooses a new leader on Saturday, February 25.
Interacting with journalists on the eve of elections in the federal capital, Abuja, Mr Mahama said the former West African leaders are in the country to ensure that there is a peaceful outcome to the polls.
He intimated that they were invited by the federal government to witness the polls and so far they are impressed with the commitment of all the 18 candidates to ensure violence-free elections.
“This year’s election is attracting this level of interest because Nigeria’s success and progress in this regard will go a long way in stabilizing democracy, promoting good governance and maintaining peace in the sub-region,” the former Ghanaian President told journalists on Friday, February 24.
“We are pleased with the level of preparedness by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security forces policing the elections and other stakeholders involved in the elections, towards conducting a free and fair exercise.”
He disclosed that last December, the Forum deployed a three-man delegation to the country to undertake a pre-election mediation mission.
The delegation was made up of former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Vai Koroma, former Vice President of the Gambia Fatoumata Tambajang and former President of the ECOWAS Commission and former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UNOWAS Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
During the mission, the delegation met with President Muhammadu Buhari, INEC Chair Prof Mahmood Yakubu, National Security Adviser, presidential candidates, political parties, civil society leaders, President of the ECOWAS Commission, development partners and other stakeholders.
Mr Mahama further disclosed that meetings have been held with former Nigeria Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and other former leaders, all to ensure peaceful polls.
“We are pleased that Gen. Abubakar is a member of our the Elders of Forum, just as we also have former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan as our members.
“We will also visit other key stakeholders just to encourage them in the job they are doing to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.”
He assured all that members of the Forum will visit a few polling stations in Abuja to observe election day procedures and results collation processes while others will stay after Saturday’s elections “to engage key stakeholders, if need be, towards guaranteeing peaceful outcomes”.
“This means that some of our members will remain in the country until the election procedures are peacefully concluded.”
