The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, against the manipulation of the results of the Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections to favour a particular candidate against the wishes the Nigerian electorate.
Ohanaeze, which gave the warning in a statement on Sunday, said manipulation of election results was an invitation to anarchy as Nigerians would not accept anything less than to ensure that their votes count.
The Igbo apex body, in the statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary Dr Alex Ogbonna, said that the reported irregularities across the country especially in Lagos, Delta, five South-East States, Rivers and host of other states, smacked of betrayal and trust of Nigerians on the electoral process.
Ohanaeze said, “Professor Yakubu is reminded that Nigerians went into this election based on his assurances that the deployment of BVAS by INEC was a perfect antidote to electoral malpractices in Nigeria.
“It will therefore be very unfortunate if what is going on across Nigeria is allowed to continue. It is a betrayal of trust which the millions of Nigerians will surely revolt against.
“Going by the results so far released, Nigerians have fully expressed their delight for a quantum leap from the asphyxiating ocean of darkness and want to an inspiring gravy train of light and prosperity.”
The organisation called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the international community to “prevail on Mahmood Yakubu not to lend hand to the thickening Frankenstein monster that first devours its creator by respecting the will of the people. Nigerians have spoken.”
Also, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, urged INEC Chairman to immediately give instructions for prompt uploading of results of Saturday’s polls.
Atiku said the call became important as some state governors were allegedly attempting to comprise the results at the local government levels.
The former vice-president said this in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe.
He said, “It will be a disservice to Nigerians and a negation of democracy for anyone to subvert the will of the people as freely expressed in their votes on Saturday.”
Also, a human rights organisation, Connected Development on Sunday, alleged that there were plans by those it described as electoral criminals to rig the general election by compromising the results.
The Chief Executive Officer of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, was quoted as saying, “With 20,000 community-driven observers on the ground, CODE and its partners, using our Electoral Intelligence tool, We have noticed a worrisome trend across the nation that points to the gaps and unpreparedness within the structure of the electoral process which is threatening the credibility of this election.”
