“We are far from real democracy”
Labor Party (LP) chairman Julius Abure has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the election results in areas where voter intimidation took place in the Guber and El elections. National Assembly on Saturday March 18. .
In a statement on Saturday evening, Abure also asked INEC to conduct new polls in areas where voters have been attacked. The statement reads in part
“The Labor Party leadership has watched with concern the continued rape of democracy in Nigeria under the oversight of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Today, the INEC headed by Professor Mahmood Yakubu clearly proved to the world that the result of the February 25 presidential election which deprived the Labor Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of the victory that the Nigerians graciously granted him was not a “glitch”. ‘ as claimed in sadly, but well-orchestrated plot to favor a particular political party and candidate.
What happened across the country today was a complete sham as serious thugs, violence and voter suppression prevailed unchecked. People have been prevented from going to vote for the candidates of their choice, especially when they see that you support the opposition party.
There were also instances of ballots being taken away, voter intimidation and vote buying at a high level. These election crimes were highly visible in Rivers, Lagos, Enugu, Edo, Delta and several other states.
There was also a high level of voter apathy, apparently because people lost faith in the electoral process. They sincerely believe that it was not worth it after what happened on February 25, where the mandate given to the LP was stolen. People believe that their votes will no longer count. The CENI has therefore managed to mismanage all the gains we have made in electoral reforms.
The Rivers State government used state officials to harass voters. In Enugu, one of our supporters was shot and the whole Enugu North senatorial area was overrun by thugs. In Lagos, APC-sponsored thugs invaded polling stations where our candidate has huge supporters. In Edo State, the thugs had a free day, unleashing maximum violence. It’s very chaotic across the country and it’s very unfortunate.
Security agencies look the other way when there is violence. It is very evident that even the security agencies are also compromised. We are very far from real democracy. The wishes and aspirations of the people have been defeated. What we have in Nigeria is a civilian dictatorship.
We therefore condemn the entire process and call for the cancellation of the results of polling stations where voter intimidation and other forms of crisis have been observed. We have also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the Inspector General of Police to retrieve all officers who have compromised in today’s election and impose appropriate sanctions.
