By Seyi Babalola
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has once again disputed the outcome of the February 25 presidential election and the announcement of All Progressives Congress President-elect Bola Tinubu.
The PDP also requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission halt the continuous transmission of polling unit results on their server, claiming that it is in complete violation of the Election Act 2022.
The PDP made this known in a complaint letter written to and submitted to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu at the commission’s offices in Abuja on Monday during a protest march against the presidential election results.
The PDP also advised INEC not to repeat the mistakes of February 25, 2023, ahead of the gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The PDP while handing the petition to INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Voter Education and Publicity, Festus Okoye, on behalf of the commission, the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu stated, “We call on your commission to suspend the on-going transmission of the polling unit results to your servers which is in complete breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“We reject and declare as unacceptable the outcome, announcement and declaration of the presidential election results.
“To warn your commission against a repeat of the experiences of the February 25 election in the coming governorship and state assembly elections of March 11, 2023. Any attempt to manipulate the electoral process will be vehemently resisted.”
The petition further reads, “We demand an explanation why you proceeded with the declaration of the election results marred with irregularities against all calls to address the complaints brought to your attention before and during the collation process.”
The protest march was led by PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who was flanked by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Ishaku, former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, Senator Dino Melaye, former Enugu State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, and former Adamawa State Governor Boni Haruna, among other party chieftains.
Recall INEC stated that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was re-elected from the Saturday February 25, 2023 elections after beating the candidates of the PDP and Labour Party, Peter Obi, whom both parties criticized for significant anomalies in the poll.
The PDP, while detesting and condemning the absurdity and brazen rape of the electoral process, said Nigeria should be seen as a country governed by the rule of law and it is a responsibility that the party collectively owed citizens desirous of entrenching true democratic principles. The party called on all Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora to stand firm in defence of their rights and votes.
It maintained, “We call on all Nigerians to be co-partners in defence of our democracy, votes, the rule of law and their rights to freely choose the candidates of their choice.”
The party further remarked that it was therefore circumspect that despite the agitations by Nigerians and parties during the collation process against the alleged irregularities surrounding the election, the commission however, proceeded with the announcement of the results in utter disregard of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
We are writing to you because we want to bring our grievances and demands formally to your attention for necessary action.
