May 9, 2007

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

NIGERIA ’S RIGGED ELECTIONS: CD SUPPORTS CALLS FOR MASS ACTION

 

The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East Zone, is shocked and disappointed that, despite public outcry against the massive riggings, monumental frauds and state-sponsored violence that characterized the April 14, 21 and 28 general elections in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blatantly refused to cancel the results.

 

The CD wonders why the INEC has turned deaf ears to the clarion calls of the people from who the government, which created it, derives its power. Or is Nigeria not in a democracy?

 

It is the sincere belief of the CD that the insensitivity of the INEC does not only cast aspersion on its independence but also lends muscle to the allegations that it assisted the Obasanjo-led PDP in the perversion of the electoral processes; culminating in the daylight robbery of the mandate of the Nigerian people.

 

Considering that they that ascend to power through the backdoors are thieves, and realizing that thieves come to steal, to kill and to destroy, the CD, south-east zone supports the planned nation-wide mass action scheduled to kick off on May 14, 2007 by civil society organizations led by the National President of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and others to protest against stealing of the people’s mandate by Yar’adua and his accomplice.

 

Accordingly, the CD calls on the suffering Nigerian masses to co-operate with the orders of pro-democracy groups in the country that are averse to the disenfranchisement of the people by President Obasanjo and the INEC; because the salvation of the oppressed lies not in the hands of the oppressors but in the hands of the oppressed.