The opposition Peoples Democratic (PDP) says the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit the result of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections from the Polling Units to the commission’s servers was a violation of the Electoral Act 2022.
The PDP, while describing the failure as unacceptable, said the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, reneged on his promise to upload election results to the commission’s servers.
The opposition party said this via a letter dated March 6, 2023, and addressed to the INEC chairman after a protest at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The party, in a letter signed by its National Chairman and National Secretary, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and Sen. Samuel N. Anyanwu, respectively, said the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections were below acceptable standards, adding that it will no longer tolerate any act in defiance of the country’s electoral processes.
The PDP stated: “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.
“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.
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“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.
“The major factors that heightened the zeal and confidence of Nigerians to participate in the electoral process were the failures of the ruling APC government, the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology, the Electoral Act 2022 and your repeated assurances of bequeathing Nigerians a credible electoral process.
“Everyone recalls with disappointment the reported widespread irregularities and manipulations that marred the election. There are ample evidence 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,” it said.
The PDP, however, noted that the leadership of the party “acting on the mandate of the Nigerian electorate” has resolved “to reject and declare as unacceptable the outcome, announcement, and declaration of the Presidential election results.
“To call on your commission to suspend the ongoing 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.
“To call on all Nigerians to be co-partners in defense of our democracy, votes, the rule of law, and their Rights to freely choose the candidates of their choice.
“To demand an explanation why you proceeded with the declaration of the election results marred with irregularities against all calls to address the complaints brought to your attention before and during the collation process.
“We are writing to you because we want to bring our grievances and demands formally to your attention for necessary action.
“Furthermore, to inform you and your commission that, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) together with the ordinary and aggrieved masses of our dear country will no longer tolerate any act in defiance of our electoral processes and laws,” the party stated.
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