*Faults manual transmission of results as INEC server not uploaded to
*Says what was being released manually did not reflect freely expressed wishes of Nigerians
*Gives advice on way forward
*As he believes Buhari committed to leaving legacy of transparent, credible election
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The walk out was the result of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s continued refusal to satisfactorily address issues of alleged compromise of the BVAS raised by the parties, after several calls on him, pointing his attention to cover up the failure of allowing the BVAS contents uploaded to the INEC server were ignored.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, raised an alarm via statement in which he alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been compromised to manipulate the results of the Saturday’s 2023 presidential election, conducted in Nigeria.
Obasanjo specifically faulted the failure of the INEC to transmit the election results electronically through the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), via the INEC Server, which resulted in the use of manual collation system.
The former president expressed his mind in a press statement titled, ‘2023 Presidential Election: An Appeal for Caution’, made available to journalists in Abeokuta.
The DEFENDER reports that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s agent at the national Collation centre, Senator Dino Melaye, had led about 10 other parties’ agents including that of Labour Party (LP) in a walk out of the International Conference Centre, Abuja venue of the results collation.
The walk out was the result of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s continued refusal to satisfactorily address issues of alleged compromise of the BVAS raised by the parties, after several calls on him, pointing his attention to cover up the failure of allowing the BVAS contents uploaded to the INEC server were ignored.
It will be recalled that after the walk out, All Progressives Congress (APC) and some other parties left in the hall picked the microphone one after another and dissociated themselves from the action meaning, according to them, that what the PDP and, as later backed by Obasanjo, and others were complaining against meant nothing to them.
But swiftly after, former President Obasanjo said he issued the statement to make President Muhammadu Buhari to be aware of what is happening about the election, pointing out that there is danger ahead.
He alleged that what was been released manually did not reflect the wishes of Nigerians which they expressed freely.
While stating that he had in the past pointed out mistakes in some actions of Buhari’s administration, Obasanjo said as far as the election issues were concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He said: “Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units. It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.
“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.
“At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.
“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.
“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.
“Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.
“To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday. Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised. Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC.
“On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise. When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation. The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his ivory tower.”
Obasanjo called on Nigerians to exercise patience until the wrong is righted, expressing the belief that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.
The Obasanjo’s two-page statement below:
