Suspend further announcement of the results or completely cancel the entire election and make plans for another election- Labour party tells INEC

The Labour party has called for the suspension of the announcement of election results and cancellation of the ‘’compromised” election.

The Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party made the call today February 27.

At a press briefing, Dr Akin Osuntokun, who is the Director-General of the Labour Party Campaign Council said President Buhari and the INEC chairman, Yakub Mahmood, had on several occasions come out to promise Nigerians a free and fair election with the passage of the new Electoral Act but that what has become glaring is that none of these promises has been kept.

Osuntokun stated that all promises about deploying a fail-safe system anchored on BVAS were broken as the internet and social media are awash with videos and photographic pieces of evidence of the pervasive violence and attacks that were visited on Nigerians during the elections, adding that some attacks were still ongoing across the country.

He said that there are numerous evidence of collusion between INEC and the security forces to subvert the will of the people, stressing that INEC’s guidelines on the conduct of the elections were extensively breached, and INEC has evidently been very reluctant to make the necessary adjustment to remedy the situation.

‘’Contrary to the publicly advertised guidelines for the conduct of the elections, we are convinced that the processes leading to the results have been severely compromised.

Consequently, we state that we have lost confidence in the results being collated and announced.

Nigerians have inundated us with calls and protests over INEC’s non-compliance with provisions of the electoral guidelines and the obvious manipulations of the election results.

We, hereby, call on INEC to suspend the further announcement of the results, and follow its own guidelines or completely cancel the entire election and make plans for another election with strict compliance with the stipulated laws and guidelines,he said.

INEC officials refusing to upload results in Lagos, Delta – Labour Party cries out

Labour Party, LP has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of refusing to upload results of the presidential elections collated in various polling units in Lagos and Delta states to the Central Server.

In a statement released this evening, February 25, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, said INEC officials in connivance with the security agencies, are claiming that the BVAS have suddenly developed a fault and therefore cannot function.

He stated that information from the party’s field men has it that in places like Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, and Ibeju Lekki, amongst others where results show that Labour Party won convincingly, the INEC officials claim that the BVAS suddenly developed a fault when it concerns uploading results of the presidential election.

“Information reaching me has it that in Lagos, they have refused to upload the results for the presidential election, they have uploaded that of the Senate and House of Representatives but for the presidential, they have refused.

And they are using the police to drive our agents and supporters out of the place. And they said that they have firm instruction from INEC headquarters not to upload.

For example, in Kosofe, they put the collation centre in a Local Government Area Headquarters.

The place is sorrounded by APC and people are afraid of their life. They are not uploading, they said that they have been giving instruction to insist that the BVAS is faulty. And most of the places we won, but they have refused to upload.

As I speak, APC officials are in Yaba office of INEC negotiating with the officials. What I have said now is happening in Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, we have this situation all over. In Ibeju Lekki, our local government chairman who attempted to stop them was arrested by the police.”

Abure said that similar situation is playing out across the collation centres in Delta state.

The Labour Party chairman, however, called on INEC to ensure that only genuine and verifiable results generated from the various polling units should uploaded.

Jonathan declares support for e-transmission of election results

Former President Goodluck Jonathan said on Wednesday the electronic transmission of elections results would help the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections in 2023.

Jonathan, who stated this in his keynote address at the National Defence College Course 30 Inauguration Lecture in Abuja, warned the National Assembly not to frustrate the commission in its quest to ensure credible conduct of the 2023 elections.

He said: “I have always made the case that electronic voting is the way to go, if we truly desire to secure the credibility and integrity of our elections.

“It is difficult, therefore, to understand why the argument against the possibility of electronic transmission of election results continues to subsist, despite all the advancements made in information and communication technology, over the years.

I want to appeal to members of the National Assembly to always ensure that they do not embark on measures that could hinder the progress and independence of INEC.

“ If they have to amend the electoral law, they should do so in a manner that would enhance INEC’s processes in its performance of its duties, especially through the adoption of innovations in ICT to aid its operations.

Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, our nation has made incremental progress towards deepening the roots of the nation’s democracy. The fact that questions are today being asked by the people on the direction of that progress means that Nigerians appreciate democracy but expect us to do more to make it work better for our people and the country.

“From my experience in leading election observation missions to many countries, people hardly go to court to contest election results in countries where the processes are credible and transparent because of the level of confidence in the system.

It is not exactly the same here. In Nigeria, the system is such that as politicians prepare for elections, they also prepare for litigation. I recall that as a Vice President, then at one international engagement, I asked my counterpart, the Deputy President of South Africa about his country’s experience with post-election court actions, and he expressed surprise that people go to court after elections.

“Everybody should be involved in securing the country. Yes, the government will do its part but we as individuals should also do our own part.

“My humble suggestion is that government and stakeholders should do a lot of dialogue. When you start talking, it reduces the anger in people.

“In many circumstances, the fear factor in human survival, prosperity and security requires that more should be done to restore hope in the people and in their economic wellbeing.”

Why APC is afraid of e-transmission of election results – Delta commissioner

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said on Monday the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the electronic transmission of election results over the fear of losing the 2023 general elections.

Aniagwu stated this in Asaba while briefing journalists on the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise in the state.

He stressed that Nigerians would never make the mistake of voting for APC in 2023.

The commissioner said politicians kicking against the electronic transmission of election planned to rig the 2023 election.

According to him, electronic transmission of results will ensure free and fair elections in the country and guide against interception and snatching of results at collation centres.

Aniagwu said: “Delta representatives in the National Assembly that voted against electronic transmission of election results did that for their own selfish desire and not the aspiration of Deltans.

APC is scared of electronic transmission of results because of its government’s abysmal failure in the last six years. Those kicking against electronic transmission of results are planning to rig election.

” Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has directed all government appointees to go back to their communities and mobilise their people to participate in the Continuous Voters Registration.

“Our people are not taking the advantage of the exercise, and therefore, the governor ordered all appointees to mobilise their people for the ongoing registration.

“Voters need to be educated because civil education in Nigeria is still low. So the governor also directed all state-own media houses to give the INEC free charge.”

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