Buhari's silence on allegations against INEC dangerous — Southern, M-Belt leaders

LEADERS of thought, elder statesmen from four of the six geo-political zones of the country, under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, said yesterday it was dangerous and worrisome for President Muhammadu Buhari to remain silent in the face of allegations of irregularities and compromise against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during the February 25 presidential elections.

In a letter to the President, the leaders of the Middle- Belt, Ndi- Igbo(Ohaneaze), Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, South-South and Afenifere, said that  it became more disturbing when President Buhari had to embark on an international journey soon after the election, despite the complaints against the process.

In the letter signed by the leaders, including Chief Edwin Clark;  Leader, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President, Middle Belt Forum; Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife - former Governor of Anambra State and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, SMBLF took a swipe at the  open declaration by President Buhari that he would inaugurate President-elect, Bola Tinubu as President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023 and not repeat the June 12, 1993 presidential poll saga.

The letter, titled "Post 2023 Presidential Election and State of the Nation,'' read: "We have elected to write this letter to you, in the spirit of national patriotism, after conscientious review of the State of the Nation, since after the February 25 presidential elections. 

''Mr. President should note that there has been an uneasy calm in the land and that the polity is laden with uncertainty orchestrated by the conduct and outcome of the presidential election.

"It's hoped that Mr. President will carefully reflect on the issues raised herein and act accordingly, not only in the interest of Nigeria's unity and stability, but the sustenance of our democratic journey as well.

"Your Excellency, across Nigeria, voters of all ages and groups, consider the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential election as fraudulent. Likewise, many foreign and local observers concluded that the conduct of the election failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians and that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, failed to follow the Electoral Act 2022, and even its own guidelines in the conduct of the poll.

"This was in spite of the humongous amount of tax payers' money spent by INEC and the promises of free, fair and credible elections given to Nigerians and the international community, ahead of the elections, by Mr. President and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

"Indeed, there's palpable tension in the country and Nigeria would have been sweltering now were it not for the appeals for calm by well-meaning Nigerians, particularly the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, in the election, Mr. Peter Obi, and most of us, who are elders and statesmen across the country.

"Unfortunately, while we are imploring for peace and calm on the part of all who are dissatisfied with the conduct and outcome of the polls, and to hold forth for the judiciary to dispense justice on the matter, it seems Mr. President and the Independent National Electoral Commission, do not appreciate the mood of the country.

Unusual swifness of INEC going to court over BVAS

"The unusual swiftness by INEC to approach the Court of Appeal for an order to professedly "reconfigure" the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines used for the conduct of the February 25 presidential election, and securing same, even when experts have indicated that BVAS devices need not necessarily be reconfigured before holding the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

"The cunning manner in which INEC rescheduled the governorship and State House of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for today, March 11, a few hours after securing the relief they sought from the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

" The seeming reluctance of INEC to timeously allow lawyers of the presidential candidate of Labour Party access to inspect and obtain essential materials used across Nigeria for the conduct of the February 25 Presidential election, despite an Order of the Court of Appeal to that effect.

Worrisome conduct, utterances of Mr  President during, after election

''Even more worrisome, Mr. President, are your conduct and utterances during and after the presidential election: On Saturday, February 25, 2023, during the Presidential and National assembly elections, Mr. President was seen in a viral video displaying your ballot paper after thumb printing, to show who you voted, certainly to influence other voters, before casting your vote at your polling unit in Daura, your hometown. 

''That was an absurd and brazen violation of provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC's voting procedures by no less a person than the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The question is what example was Mr. President providing?

"It must be noted that Section 50 (1) of the Electoral Act of 2022 stipulates that "(1) Voting at an election under this Act shall be by open secret ballot and that "(2) Subject to section 63 of this Act, voting at an election and transmission of results under this Act shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the commission."

Culled from Vanguard