A socio-political organisation of the Yoruba people of Western Nigeria, Afenifere, has said that the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential election in the country lacks credibility.
While describing the outcome of the election which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner, as sad news to Nigerians, the Yoruba group insisted that election and the outcome lack credibility and Nigerians should look at it like that.
Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, said in Akure, the Ondo State capital, that the result of the election declared by the electoral agency was not acceptable to the majority of Nigerians, adding, ‘’from what we are hearing, they were manipulating the result especially in the Northern part of the country. To that extent, the election and the outcome lack credibility and Nigerians should look at it like that.’’
This came as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, said that in spite of the declaration of President Buhari as the winner, hope was not lost yet on the outcome of the controversial poll.
Atiku had earlier rejected the outcome of the election, saying he was heading to court. He also argued thatif he had lost in a free and fair election, he would have called the winner within seconds of his being aware of the outcome of the exercise.
‘’If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South’’, he said.
Continuing, Atiku said, ‘’in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019. 2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.’’
While commending Nigerians for choosing democracy and for voting for him, he said, ‘’for my fellow Nigerians who feel angry, disillusion and let down by the process, I appeal to you to remain calm and steadfast, Rome was not built in a day.
‘’We have the real figures, we have the facts that have spoken so loudly on Saturday, February 23, 2019. As I have always said, this year is my three decades in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy, and this is the worst election in those 30 years.
‘’I told Gen. Abdsulsalami Abubakar two nights ago when he called me that not even the military conducted such a worst election. This is a long journey but I am confident of victory. All hope is not lost, stay strong. By the grace of God we shall triumph. Democracy is the government of the people and by the people only when the people’s choice prevails”.
‘’On the election day, Nigerians witnessed the implementation of grand theft of the people’s will. In Akwa Ibom for instance, the result showed a statistical impossibility of a 62 per cent drop in voters’ numbers from the 2015 elections, even where voter registration and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection rates were much higher. This is why voter suppression took place.
‘’This pattern was repeated in strongholds of PDP including in states like Delta, Rivers, Abia and Benue States. As this was occurring, we saw another statistical impossibility where the real numbers tallied in numbers increased astronomically in Borno State by an almost miraculous 82 per cent in the midst of insecurity.
‘’This pattern was also repeated in other strongholds of the APC states. One begins to ask if insecurity is conducive to higher voter turnout and security is antithetical to high voter turnout. It is curious that the PDP’s margin of victory in states outside the South/East and South/South were extremely slim across board, clearly, a statistical impossibility.
‘’The figures declared by INEC as results of Feb. 23 elections do not add up at all. My dear Nigerians, it is for this reason that I Atiku Abubakar reject the result declared by the INEC which declared Buhari as duly returned by the majority of the lawful votes. I am conferring with not just my party but also Nigerian people on the next step which will be revealed to the public shortly.’’
