By Peter Nwasike
07037946858
There
is a truism that “The Evidence of Two Is True”. This is because when two
witnesses corroborate themselves in evidence, their testimony is true. That is
why when two or more witnesses are to testify in Court, none of them is allowed
to be in Court, when any of them is cross-examined.
In
the case of Election 2023, there are allegations from various individuals and
groups, that the election, to the Presidency and National Assembly of February
25, 2023, and the Governorship and State Assembly Election of March 18, 2023,
were marred and polluted with horrible irregularities, malpractices,
characterized with violence, destruction and snatching of ballot papers and
boxes, intimidation and denying voters the right to exercise their franchise. Other
allegations were that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC),
suppressed the results of some parties, especially the candidate of Labour
Party, and padded the votes of candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC),
and declared the wrong person as the “Winner”, thereby putting the Nation in a
quagmire, as to who really won the election. The Editoral of some erudite
journalists in their various popular newspapers, corroborate themselves, in
this case.
In
the Editorial of Fides Newspaper, March 26-April 1, 2023, page 3, its caption
is: “NIGERIA’S WORST ELECTION AND THE
SCARY FUTURE”.
“There
have been rigged Elections in Nigeria but the 2023 Elections have taken the
Oscar by the brazen manner the electoral umpire conducted it. In the past
elections where results were manufactured, there were attempts to hide the
manipulations, even though people knew the results were contrived. But the 2023
General Elections in Nigeria have been rigged in such an open manner that
Nigerians have been insulted and ridiculed before the world.
“From
the Presidential Election and National Assembly Elections of February 25 to the
Governorship and State Assembly Election of March 18, the Country’s Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body saddled with the task of giving
Nigeria free, fair and credible elections, have muddled up things in a way that
has spoilt all the recent gains made since the days of late President Shehu
Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. This year’s elections have taken Nigeria
back by 40 years (1983 to be precise) when the then National Party of Nigeria
(NPN) use the then electoral umpire to assault the sensibilities of Nigerians
and it was no surprise that a military coup came soon after.
“Having
seen how the recent elections have been conducted, it is scary to contemplate
the extent of havoc it will wreak on the political life of the Country. The
INEC simply did not hide its bias and did as it was directed by its paymasters.
Despite complaints, it went on with collation in many places and announced
results which did not tally with those in possession of party agents. But where
their anointed candidates were trailing, collation was suspended as in the
cases of Enugu and Abia State, prompting some people to ask if indeed, INEC
could suspend collation.
“The
brazen manner in which INEC rigged the last elections can only enthrone
lawlessness in the future and give the impression that the end justifies the
means, and this can only endanger future elections in the Country, especially
if the perpetrators of the electoral heist are allowed to get away with it …
The
Editorial of Donac Pilot Newspaper, Monday, March 31, 2023, page 2, has her
caption as: “WILL NIGERIA EVER BE FREE
FROM ELECTION RIGGING”.
“2023
General Elections have come and gone. Just like the previous elections in the
Country, this year’s polls continued with the trend of manipulations which the
most populous nation in black Africa is known for.
“Political
history has it that election manipulations actually started in the 1950s, that
is before the Nation attained her political Independence from Great Britain.
“Unfortunately,
succeeding political leaders have not done anything to break away from the sad
foundation of political manipulations.
“A
Nation that cannot conduct a free, fair, credible and generally acceptable
election is already headed for doom.
The
2023 general elections presented a unique opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians
to correct the wrongs of the past, but again, like a dog that normally goes
back to its vomit, fumbled again….”
Now
Telegraph Newspaper, Thursday, March 30, 2023, page 13, has her caption, thus: “2023 POLLS: THE POLITICAL CLASS AND THEIR
ANTICS”.
“The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has almost concluded this
year’s General Election with the Presidential and National Assembly Election
taking place on Saturday with the Presidential and National Assembly Election
taking place on Saturday, February 25, and the Governorship and State Assembly
Polls holding on Saturday, March 18, across the Country. However, the
Commission has scheduled April 15, for the conclusion of the exercise with the
conduct of supplementary governorship, legislative polls.
“New
Telegraph is, however, dismayed to state unequivocally that the already
conducted polls were replete with large scale irregularities. Virtually every
state had their own fair share of electoral malpractices, before, during and
after the exercises.
Some
political gladiators, including some governors of some states, reportedly went
about with suspected thugs to fraudulently influence electoral outcomes. Ballot
box snatching and destruction of electoral proceedings were said to be
prevalent in some States in the South.
But
the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections on March 18 exposed
Nigeria as a mere democratic hypocrite. The polls fell far below prescribed
standards as there were reported extensive voter suppression/intimidation,
violence, and disruption of voting proceedings in the strongholds of opposition
political parties.
“The
build-up to a season of impunity had started during the campaigns and escalated
during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
“Unfortunately,
Lagos was regrettably, in the lead in the show of shame that, at best, could be
described as officially endorsed terrorism…”
Various
individuals testified and condemned the rascality that polluted the election.
Rev. Fr. Pat Amobi Chukwuma, in his article published in Fides Newspaper, April
2-8, 2023, titled: “PROMOTION OF
IMPUNITY”, lamented:
“The
Presidential Election was rigged to the highest level that even animals are
upset. The 2023 Election Umpire, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has written his name
in mud instead of in gold by doctoring, compromising and rigging the
Presidential election in favour of a preferred candidate. The election was not
free, fair, transpareny and credible. Violence was used to prevent electorates
from voting for the candidate of their choice in some States. Ballot papers and
some electoral materials were destroyed in many polling centres. The
stipulations of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act were seriously contravened.
The Certificate of Return was given in error. After manual collation and
announcement of padded result, the umpire directed the aggrieved presidential
candidates to go to Court.
How
can you intentionally do someone harm and ask him or her to go to Court…? With
cartoon description, Fr. Chukwuma implored: JUSTICE, FIGHT IMPUNITY.”
As
published in Donac Pilot Newspaper, March 31, 2023, page 5, a Lawyer
volunteered his legal services, to compel INEC to observe the rule of Law in
her work, with the caption:
“LAWYER SUES INEC OVER FAILURE TO
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMIT POLL RESULTS”.
“A
legal practitioner, Barrister Bob James, recently instituted an action against
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over its alleged failure
to electronically transmit results of the presidential and National Assembly
elections that held on February 25, from polling units to its IREV Portal.
He
drew attention of the Court in a subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court
delivered by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen,
where the apex Court held that “Where a law prescribes the procedure to be
followed in the performance of an act, and that procedure is not complied with,
the performance of the act in the circumstance becomes a nullity”.
In
the Sun Newspaper of Thursday, April 6, 2023, page 6, Prof Wole Soyinka, Nobel
Laureate, condemned the Election and described it as disgraceful and shameful,
affirming that it was the worst election in the history of Nigeria.
Some
groups of elders from the South questioned the credibility of the election, as
published in the Donac Pilot Newspaper, March 31, 2023, page 4, titled: “BUHARIS SILENCE ON ALLEGATIONS AGAINST
INEC, DANGEROUS”.
“Leaders
of Thought, on the platform of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, (SMBLF),
have said President Buhari’s silence in the face of allegations of
irregularities and compromise against the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), was dangerous”.
They
frowned at the intention of Buhari, according to release by his Assistant on
Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, to inaugurate Tinubu as president-elect, on
May 29, 2023, while the case is in court, and warned Buhari to refrain from autocratic
measures that is prejudicial to Court and tantamount to intimidation.
With
the overwhelming evidence that have proved beyond reasonable doubt, that the
election was blatantly rigged, with contravention of the Constitution and
Electoral Act 2022, the Court should do justice to their profession, and grant
the prayers of Peter Obi (First Petitioner) and Labour Party (Second Petitioner),
as contained in their affidavit in the case.
Peter
Obi of Labour Party Authentic Winner
2023 Presidency