Nigerian Elders Fault Presidential Poll, Say Outcome Premeditated

The Forum of Nigerian Leaders and Elders (TFNLE) is not on the same page with President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election victory, saying the outcome of the poll was clearly premeditated.

According to the forum, the refusal of President Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act and the orchestrated suspension of Justice Walter Onoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) shortly before the composition of Electoral Tribunals have all given out the Buhari administration.

They are therefore, calling on the Judiciary arm of government to uphold the highest standards of integrity and commitment to their hallowed role by doing justice to the appeals that would come before them knowing that the eyes of the world will be on them.

The elders say they were aware that attempts were being made to demoralise and intimidate the critical arm of government to remove a conducive context for litigations.

‘’We are aware that attempts are being made to demoralize and intimidate the judiciary to remove a conducive context for litigations. We remind the judiciary that it is the last defence of our democratic process’’, the elders said.

They have accordingly declared support for the resolve of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge results of the presidential poll in the courts as provided for in the Constitution, describing Atiku’s decision as patriotic, responsible and ultimately the highest contribution to the democratic system.

The Forum which comprises PANDEF, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Ohanaeze and Middle Belt Forum (MBF) expressed their support in a statement signed by their leaders, including Chief Edwin Clark, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief John Nwodo and Dr. Pogu Bitrus.

They commended Atiku for his statesmanship and commitment to the democratic process, noting that in a situation such as this “some other person would by now be soaking ‘baboons and dogs in blood’.

The elders who reviewed all the major developments leading to the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections, disagreed with the management of the electoral process and the conduct and announced outcome of the elections.

They urged Atiku to exhaust the entire democratic process by challenging the results in the courts as provided for in the Constitution, adding, ‘’we see his decision as patriotic, responsible and ultimately the highest contribution to the democratic system. Some other person would by now be soaking ‘baboons and dogs in blood.’’

They claimed that they observed the polls and alleged massive irregularities and outright abuse of the electoral laws, the rules and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as the failure of security forces to remain neutral and operate within the highest standards of their calling.

They said the Peace Accord entered into by the presidential candidates of various political party before poll exercise with former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and his team was ridiculed by deliberate and open abuse of organs of the state, the denial of rights of many citizens to vote and blatant abuse of all the commitments made by the administration under President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘’To decline to challenge obviously fictional figures, failures to respect key elements of the electoral process such as the use of Smart Card Readers and preventing agents and observers access to all processes is to condone the massive setback which this election represents for the country’’, the elders said.

The forum appealed to all Nigerians to continue to show faith in the democratic process and remain law-abiding as the country awaited the decisions of the judiciary on a matter it said would ultimately determine the quality of the nation’s ‘’democratic process and the nature of the nation we all call our own.’’

The elders in endorsing the candidature of Atiku for the presidential election, they anchored their support on identifying a candidate among many good candidates one who could retool Nigeria to move on the path of development as a true federal entity.

Adding, they said the pattern of voting in areas where there were semi-free elections showed overwhelming endorsements of its position by popular votes, adding that: ‘’And the poll’s results have shown further a badly divided polity that needs a unifier and not a divisive person as a leader. We insist Nigerians must stand firm and ensure that we are governed by a legitimate leadership.’’

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