The Atiku-Okowa Campaign Council of the People’s Democratic Party has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the presidential election that took place on February 25, 2023.
Also, the presidential campaign requested that the electoral umpire pick a date for the election that takes into account both highly disturbed areas and the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
The campaign organization spokesperson, Daniel Bwala said on Tuesday, “Declare this election inconclusive and set a date for the conduct of elections that addresses areas where BVAS was not used and where violence occurred which suppress the voting rights of the people.
The conduct of the 2023 elections has been criticized across the board as one that is marred by irregularities and total departure from the Electoral Act amendment.”
The spokesperson for the campaign added that INEC ought to “immediately suspend national collation and address the issues raised by parties over BVAS bypass and electronic transfer of results.
“Set a date for the conduct of elections in the affected places and ensure results are uploaded as contained in the guidelines. The said elections must be free and fair and BVAS used accordingly.
“Cancel all the collated and announced results so far until such a time when all the results collated at the polling units alone be uploaded to INEC server, same only announced, duplicate copies of which all party agents have for transparency sake.”
According to the campaign organization, the electoral umpire should also address the Nigerian public in a televised speech on the sanctity of the processes and integrity of his person to regain the trust of the Nigerian people and the international community.
“The fact that INEC is refusing to address the issues and concerns that have been identified and have been widely expressed, accepted, and supported by reports from the nation’s key stakeholders, former presidents, and foreign observers is now irrefutable and obvious to everyone,” Bwala continued.
He further stated, “What is not clear is the intentions of the INEC chairman and INEC as a commission. Section 65 of the electoral act mandates the INEC chairman to correct every anomaly (s) raised by stakeholders of the process (political party and their agents) within 7 days.”
He stressed that the trust in the process and legitimacy of the results must not be sacrificed on the altar of convenience and speed, adding that the election is essential to the national security of the country.