Group condemns Feb.25th Poll, Call for arrest of Wike, Udom, Yahaya Bello, Others

Group condemns Result of February 25th 2023 polls, call for the Arrest of Govs Wike, Udom and Yahaya Bello over Electoral Violence, asks Chief of Naval Staff to account for the use of Naval Officers In Kanam LGA

The Citizens Observers Hub, a coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Credible Elections in Nigeria (Members include CYPA Africa, Youths in Politics, Equity International Initiative, Citizens Voices and Forward Nigeria has condemned the entire process and outcome of the February 25th 2023, which according to them falls short of the minimum requirements of a credible, free and fair elections.

The group also called for the Arrest and prosecution of Governors Nyesome Wike, Emmanuel Udom, Yahaya Bello of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Kogi States for electoral violence, inhumane treatments and human rights violation in the just conclude February 25th 2023 General Elections. 

This was communicated during a Press Conference addressed by the convener of the group, Amb Chris Iyama in Lagos on Friday 3rd March 2033. The groups was reacting to the process and outcome of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly Elections. The group lamented the fact that Nigerians trooped out in their numbers because of the guarantees provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the Electoral Act 2022, chief of which was the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a technology that was to ensure credible, free and fair elections, only for their hope to be dashed by manual transmission and electoral fraud.

The group identified the following challenges that the widespread experiences of voters across the country;

1. Sensitive material and INEC officials arrived late in the day especially in Southern Nigeria, others towards evening hours to meet an already angry, tired and frustrated Nigerian voters.

2. The operation of BVAS technology fell below expectation as the machine either malfunctioned or took much time in accrediting voters.

3. Voters were left to their fate with the promised security of voters which encouraged them to come out in their numbers despite threats of intimidation and violence in some areas.

4. That after the stressful process, where voters waited on queues late into the night and into early hours of the morning, results were not transmitted according to the extant provision of the Electoral Act 2022.

4. That there was widespread underaged voting cross most states in Northern Nigeria.

5.That State sponsored thugs held sway harassing, intimidating and in some instances killed innocent voters in Southern Nigeria, especially in Rivers State where the only crime of the voters was their desire to exercise their rights as citizens of Nigeria.

6. The use of the military, particularly Naval Officers to intimidate and harass voters in Kanam LGA, Plateau State by a candidate who used same to personally escort election results and not allow the Nigerian police perform their constitutional duties as well as the use of well known thugs sponsored by the state to disrupt elections in Lagos State, River State, Akwa Ibom and some of parts of IMO state. 

7. Deliberate compromise by INEC officials who helped to correct, adjust over voting, transferred votes scored of one political party to favour another political party and in other cases deliberate mutilation of result sheets.

Considering these and many other widespread sad discoveries made across Nigeria, the Citizens Observers Hub in Coalition with Youths in Politics, CYPA Africa, Equity International Initiative, Citizens VOICES and Forward Nigeria and others stated the following;

"i. That the outcome of the February 25th 2023 General Elections were marred by various degrees of unbelievable irregularities.".

" ii. That INEC failed to transmit the collated  result as prescribed by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022; and the INEC Manual for Election Officials requiring transmission of the results by the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in flagrant breach of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022; and the INEC Manual for Election Officials, 2023.".

 

"iii. That the results of the February 25th 2023 polls were manually transmitted, which violates the provision of Sections 25; 47(2); 60 (1), (2), (4) & (5); 62; 64(4)(a) & (b); 70; and 148 of the Electoral Act, 2022, governing the 2023 nationwide general elections, particularly paragraphs 38 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022; and paragraphs 2.8.4; 2.9.0; and 2.9.1 of the INEC Manual for Election Officials, 2023, for the conduct of the presidential election.”

"iv. That we condemn the entire process and outcome of the February 25th 2023 because it falls short of the minimum requirements of a credible, free and fair elections."

They therefore stated in clear terms the following;

"a. We call on the international community to immediately place Visa embargo on any person or group of persons who used their offices to interfere perpetuate election violence"

"b. We therefore call on the international community not to recognize and legitimize any person or persons who fraudulently rigged his or her way into office as doing so will imply acceptance and accomplice to illegality which may undermine the good and law abiding citizens of Nigeria."

"c. We call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Akwa-Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and their sponsored thugs to face crime charges against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their inhumane, callous and evil conduct which led to the killing of innocent voters in their respective states."

"d. We call on the international community not to recognize such sham of an elections as doing so might connote acceptance and accomplice to illegality in the February 25th Presidential Elections."

"e. We call for the immediate resignation or removal of the INEC Chairman, Prof Mamuud Yakubu, as this is the only way to restore confidence in the 2023 General Elections."

"f. We call on the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo to immediately explain to Nigerians why atleast 50 masked Naval Officers were seen around different polling units and collations centers harassing and intimidating voters in Kanam and Pankshin LGAs of Plateau State on the instructions of Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Member Representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Navy.".

The group used the opportunity to call on young people across Nigeria to remain calm and law abiding as justice will be served to all those who scuttles the process of having a transparent, credible, free and fair elections. They discouraged unlawful and destructive activities capable of undermining peace and National Security.

Finally, the group called on the international community to save Nigeria's Democracy by immediately denouncing the illegality of the February 25th 2023 Presidential Elections. This according to them is the only way the image of Nigeria can be redeemed at this time.