Coalition Tasks INEC on Credible and Transparent Electoral Processes, says The Peoples’ Votes Did Not Count in The Just Concluded Presidential/National Assembly Poll, Preaches Peace and Call for Calm

The National President, Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Gender Equality Leadership and Good governance Amb. Elizabeth Oziri has noticed with dismay the anomalies of the electoral processes of the just concluded poll as  observed and reported  by its representatives across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT therefore drew a conclusion that the election lacked credence and transparency.

The the coalition report read ” The citizens came out in thier numbers on the election day to exercise ” the Power of the Thumb” but unfortunately their votes did not count as the collated results at the polling units and collation centre across  different states differed from the collated vote the national collation center and subsequent announcement of the winner of the presidential election by INEC”.

The people voted a candidate of thier choice as that is what represents true democracy which is government of the people, by the people and for the people but were not privileged to enjoy thier choice as somewhere along the line between the polling units and the colattion centres, our hope for a better Nigeria and  future was dashed to the ground as the election and the process was marred with irregularities, a situation the coalition describes  as not just a little mistake that should go unnoticed but a kidnap of Nigeria herself and a rape of democracy.

The Former Hon. Minister of Information, Hon Labaran Maku said ” if citizens votes do not count, democracy is useless, it is worst than dictatorship, the greatest crime in any country is to change the results of an election to favour anyone who was not chosen by the people, democracy and it’s processes dies”.

The national presiden of the coalition noted with dissatisfaction that the 25th February, 2023  polls which produced the standard bearer of the All Progressive Congress was marred with irregularities, she said this while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja.

In her words “what happened in the just concluded poll is a kidnap of Nigeria herself and rape of the democracy in Nigeria adding that a disdainful arrangement can not be accepted as an election and  should not repeat itself as it leave  a major dent on the country’s image internationally adding that the International Joint Observation Mission observed the flaws of the exercise leading to exposing the country to ridicule.

The event had in attendance Executive Chairperson of African Youth Union Commission Amb. Ojikeme Enakeme, Rescue Women Amnesty International Head Shulamite Nwaoze, Michelle Peter of Nigeria Female Youth Organisation,Deborah Usman Youth speak out, Shehu Mannir of Association of Entrepreneurs for disabled persons,Amb. Idris Musa, Shetiman Gunduma Tudun Wada.Prince Artimas Kure both of NOGALSS and other members of the coalition. Oziri who doubles as the Executive Chairperson Women and Child Disaster Rescue Initiatives said the exercise was void of chaos in some local governments and polling units but was marred by operational irregularities, logistics issues, intimidations, violence, compromise and poor network to transmit colatted BVAs results through the IREV to the INEC portal. Most of the local and International Joint Observation Mission clearly stated that the process did not meet international standard as it lacked due diligence, credence and transparency.

She however encouraged Nigerians especially the youths not to take to the streets as this is not the solution at a time like this but to embrace peace because Nigeria is the only country we have, we must defend our land, we still believe in the promises it holds. She believes the best is yet to come.

Amb. Elizabeth Oziri through the coalition enjoins all aggrieved  candidates and interested parties in the process to instead of further causing tension in  the polity  seek redress in the court, hoping that the court will dispense justice to all parties.