Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Labour Party has demanded the cancellation of the 2023 presidential poll over alleged malpractices in the collation of results.
National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja, expressed disappointment over the manifest infractions in computing the results of the election.
He rejected the results of the polls being announced by INEC, saying his party can only admit results obtained by its agents at the polling units.
Abure accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disappointing Nigerians, particularly youths, who participated in the election with high hopes of a free and transparent process.
He expressed shock that despite repeated promises, INEC failed to electronically transmit the results of the election.
Abure noted that expectations of Nigerians were so high before the polls but regretted that the old order had not been destroyed.
“The Electoral Act was amended in 2022 for the electronic transmission of results after they are declared at the polling units.
“Nigerians participated in this process with the belief that the use of technology and adherence to the agreed electronic transmission of results to INEC servers at polling units would ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
“Yesterday, being Saturday, Feb.25, 2023, the very process which INEC assured Nigerians would be followed was truncated for whatever reasons.
”No matter what those reasons are, they are totally unacceptable to Nigerians and members of the party.
“INEC servers shut down and only presidential elections could not be uploaded onto the INEC server.”
He also said that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) did not work during the polls contrary to promises by INEC.
“This failure no doubt has given room for manipulation of the presidential results being announced by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu at the Collation Centre in Abuja.
“We have sufficient documentary evidence that confirm that manipulations of the presidential elections results have occurred in Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Parts of Edo State, Delta State, and some Northern States.
“These manipulations were carried out under the watchful eyes and connivance of police officers at the various
election units and INEC offices.”
Abure said that 24 hours after the elections, INEC was yet to upload the authentic results adding that the excuse that the server was down was “flimsy and not tenable.”
He said that the irregularities in the electoral process adding that the election had been marred by irregularities and the integrity of INEC and its Chairman was now in doubt.
“We, therefore, call on Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, who promised Nigerians that he would leave a legacy of free, fair, and credible elections, assuring Nigerians, on several occasions, that their votes would count and that the process leading to the elections would be transparent and open.
“We are calling on you to live up to your promise to Nigerians as millions of Nigerians, particularly, the youth participated in the 2023 elections with the hope that Mr President would keep to his promise of a free, fair, and transparent election.”
