The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar has asked the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to declare the Saturday’s presidential election inconclusive.
The presidential candidate also asked the electoral umpire to suspend national collation immediately and address the complaints raised by parties relating to BVAS bypass and electronic transmission of results.
The Spokesman to Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, Dr Daniel Bwala in a statement, Tuesday said that INEC should desist from any interpretation that will mislead the political parties, because pushing the review after final declaration is tantamount to exercise in futility and planned attempt to sidestep section 65 and the very reason for its provision in the electoral act in the first place.
“This section was largely objected to by APC lawmakers and lawyers during the amendment process before it was eventually passed into law. So let’s be clear, the election is inconclusive and the INEC Chairman cannot proceed without the political parties being present to object or accept the results at the national collation exercise.
“No court of law hears and determines a matter in the absence of necessary parties. Therefore the options available to the INEC chairman in law, fairness, transparency, equity and good conscience.”
Atiku also said, “Set a date for conduct of elections in the affected places and ensure results are uploaded as contains 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 BE ANNOUNCED, duplicate copies of which all party agents have for transparency sake.
“Declare this election inconclusive and set a date for conduct of elections that addresses areas where BVAS was not used and where violence occurred which suppressed the voting rights of the people.
“Address the Nigerian public in a televised speech on the sanctity of the processes and integrity of his person to regain the confidence of the Nigerian people and the international community.
“Confidence of the process and legitimacy of the results must never be sacrificed on the alter of convenience and speed. This election is pivotal to the national security of the country.”