The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum has announced that Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the February 25 Presidential election, shall be declared president.
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former governor of Anambra State, and Prof Charles Nwekeaku, Secretary of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, announced this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The Igbo elders said in a statement released after the meeting that they are certain that the LP flagbearer won the poll and will soon be proclaimed the rightful winner by the court.
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The Igbo elders were also taken aback by the assertion that President Muhammadu Buhari would endorse the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, as president-elect on May 29.
The statement reads: “The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum met recently; reviewed and critically analyzed some national issues including the fall-out of the February 25 Presidential/National Assembly Elections, and resolved as follows:
“The media reports credited to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari that he would swear-in Mr Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential elections as the new President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023, despite the fact that the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction is shocking and embarrassing to the members of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum.
“It would be recalled that both His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi the presidential candidates of both the PDP and the Nigeria Labour Party, respectively have both challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaration of Mr Ahmed Tinubu as the president-elect in a controversial and fraudulently conducted election.
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“The statement credited to Mr President, which is yet to be refuted, is the height of arrogance, insensitivity, madness, unpatriotism, and prejudice. Many credible international and local observers, including the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum have condemned that election as fraudulent, dubious, and irresponsible exercise capable of setting Nigeria ablaze as INEC has failed in every material content to meet its own yardstick for free, fair, and credible elections.
“The voting materials, polling, and security agents arrived very late in different parts of the country on the voting day, as INEC deliberately refused to upload or transmit the votes to the central server as stipulated in the 2022 new Electoral Act. In some cases, there were no security agents in polling units thereby exposing the electoral officers and voting materials to unimaginable risks and dangers.
“In a few cases where INEC reluctantly transmitted results, it was selective as only the Senate and House of Representatives results were uploaded, while the presidential results were blatantly and recklessly abandoned, and, in some cases ‘doctored to suit the interest of INEC and its paid masters. Therefore, Mr President’s comment before the judicial pronouncement on the matter is considered the height of insensitivity, indecorum, arrogance, and naked intimidation of Nigerians who, despite the existential hardships, trooped out in millions to vote for a new and functional Nigeria, “ the elders said adding that with the court case, they are confident Obi will emerge as the next Nigerian president.”
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The elders also criticized the alleged intimidation, harassment, and destruction of non-indigenous shops in Lagos and Rivers states, where the ruling political parties appear to have lost the February 25 presidential election to the Labour Party.
They called the activities as concerning, distressing, embarrassing, and hazardous to democracy, adding that they have the potential to set this country on fire.
In the statement, they also urge that victims of unjustified intimidation, harassment, and damage of lives and property be adequately compensated and rehabilitated.
The statement added: “That the government is yet to arrest and prosecute the culprits who perpetrated these heinous crimes is even more worrisome and embarrassing, as it raises a fundamental question of whether the Federal Government is still capable of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, which is the primary responsibility of every modern government. We, therefore, call on the Federal Government and various state governments to rise up to the occasion of the protection of lives and property of Nigerians especially non-indigenes in Lagos and Rivers States to avoid reprisal effects and the resultant instability and destabilization of this country by the enemies of progress.
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“We also demand that the victims of these unwarranted intimidation, harassment, and destruction of lives and property should be paid adequate compensation and properly rehabilitated as loyal citizens of this country,” the elders said while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission not only to get its acts together to conduct free, fair and credible elections on Saturday but also ensure that votes are transmitted immediately at the polling units as provided in the 2022 new Electoral Act.
“INEC should ensure adequate security for polling materials and voters at the polling units in various parts of the country. The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum wishes to encourage Nigerians to vote in this weekend’s election and retire from politics all non-performing governors and legislators for a new and functional Nigeria.”
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