The Centre for Ability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment, C.A.R.E Nigeria, has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over its conduct of the presidential and National Assembly polls, which it says left a sour taste on the international community and Nigerians.
This is contained in a statement signed by
Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of C.A.R.E, Dr. Chike Okogwu, in Abuja.
The statement describes the process that led to the declaration of APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-elect, as flawed.
“That INEC dropped the ball by not giving us a truly free, fair and credible election and not responding well in managing the BVAS technology and logistics is no more news”
“What is burdensome and newsworthy is the sour taste it left in the perception of the international community and sour taste in the mouth of Nigerians when you add up the votes to see the 63% voted for other parties as against 37% that voted the winner declared, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This singular act has robbed the President-Elect of any credibility as the process that declared him winner is judged flawed by all”
“The sour taste in the mouths of Nigerians is even more with widespread accusations of voter suppression, manipulation of results and outright disregard of INEC’s laid down procedures in the guidelines released for the elections.
“Once again ‘Judocracy’ – as espoused by the erudite legal luminary Chief Mike Ozekhome meaning that the Judiciary will again affirm a victor in a few days’ time as against democracy which the people practiced through the ballot boxes on February 25th 2023 making this day another watershed in our history.”
It therefore, urges INEC to deliver to Nigerians credible polls ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
“INEC must first realise that the two-pronged issues of dropping the ball namely logistics and BVAS are both technical challenges that needs technical solutions.
“We plead and admonish the electorate to come out enmasse to vote peacefully as ‘citizens’ as they have always done and believe that they can finally finish off the ‘counterfeit leadership lions’ of tribalism and clannishness.
By Georgina Humphrey,edited by Grace Namiji