*Accuses Prof. Yakubu, of complicity in the alleged electoral fraud
*Threatens to resist further impunity by the electoral umpire
By Ezechukwu Chidozie and Daniel Tyokua
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar Monday led the party’s leaders and other party members on a peaceful protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abuja, which was handed over to Barr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner/Chairman, Voter Education and Publicity, declared that the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly election was a charade.
The party stated that it was disheartening that an election which had raised the hopes of Nigerians to witness an advancement in our electoral process failed beyond expectation.
The letter states in part: “You would recall the outcry of many concerned citizens of this country variously accusing your commission of complicity in a planned manipulation of the electoral process in favour of the ruling Party (APC).
“At each time the issues took the media front burner, you were quick in dispelling them as rumors and mere allegations. Today Nigerians have all seen that those allegations were true.
“In many meetings and briefings your commission held with the Political Parties and the Press ahead of the 2023 general elections, you assured Nigerians that INEC under your leadership would conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible election.
“You also promised the use of the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) technology in voter accreditation and result management whereby the public would have unhindered access to the results uploaded to your Servers online and in real time (iREV).
“Contrary to this belief there was an abysmal failure on your part to honour your promises.
“Predictably, the conduct and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections fell below acceptable standards.
“It has resonated the fears of all Nigerians in your integrity and that of your commission to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible election.
“The confidence you deceitfully made us to repose in you and your commission has been battered and eroded away by the outcome of that election.
“The masses are angry and have not hidden their resentment and rejection of the purported declaration you made to that effect.
“Without any equivocation, this election, in the history of our country elicited so much interest, awareness, commitment and dexterity in Nigerians to exercise their civic responsibility”.
PDP stated that the failures of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government, the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology ,the Electoral Act 2022 and your repeated assuranced of bequeathing Nigerians a credible electoral process.
“Everyone recalls with disappointment the reported widespread irregularities and manipulations that marred the election.
“There are ample evidences to show deliberate complicity of your commission in the entire fraud.
“The falsification of results and deliberate de-activation of the BVAS and your Servers to frustrate the transmission of election results directly from the Polling Units attest to that.
“In all these issues brought to your attention you refused to act.
“Nigerians are no more in doubt of your direct involvement in aiding and abetting the monumental rigging and manipulation of the election results in favour of the ruling Party (APC).
“In addition, the refusal and neglect of your electoral officers to transmit the results of the election directly from the Polling Units (PU) to INEC Servers as required by law is a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“This action is not acceptable to Nigerians and neither to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It therefore stands to be challenged”.
They drew his attention to Section 64 (4) (b) of the Electoral Act 2022 requiring a “ollation Officer or Returning Officer at an election to collate and announce the result of an election subject to his or her verification and confirmation that the:
“Votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from Polling Units under Section 60 (4) of this Act.
“Consequent upon the above Section 60 (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, the result you have announced and the declarations made are ultra vires, illegal and of no effect except for results transmitted directly from the Polling Units.
“It is therefore circumspect that despite the agitations by Nigerians and our Party during the collation process, protesting the reported irregularities surrounding the election, you proceeded with the announcement of the results in utter disregard of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“It is funny and a gross abuse of our electoral process for your commission to have commenced transmission of the February 25, election results from the various Polling Units (PU) days after the results of the said election had been announced and purported winners declared.
“Your action in this regard is an affront on the sensibilities of all Nigerians which we have vowed to resist”.
PDP insisted that hasty declaration of the election results which violated the Electoral Act, places Yakubu’s integrity to total scrutiny going by “your deceitful representations and assurances to Nigerians and the International Community that the Electoral Act 2022 is a game changer that would guarantee a free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process especially with the BVAS transmission of election results directly from the Polling Units”.
The party added: “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) detests and condemns this absurdity and brazen rape of our electoral process.
“Nigeria should be seen as a country governed by the rule of law and it is a responsibility we collectively owe our citizens desirous of entrenching true democratic principles and the rule of law.
“In this circumstance we call on all Nigerians both home and in the diaspora to stand firmly in defense of their rights, votes and stolen mandate.
PDP declared that it “reject and declare as unacceptable the outcome, announcement and declaration of the Presidential election results”.
They also “call on your commission to suspend the on- going transmission of the Polling Units results to your Server which is in complete breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“To warn your commission against a repeat of the experiences of the February 25, election in the coming Governorship and State Assembly elections of March 11, 2023.
“Any attempt to manipulate the electoral process will be vehemently resisted,” the party stressed.
