Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Presidential Candidate of the PDP. |
I thank the Nigerian people who
trooped out in their millions to perform their civic duty this past Saturday.
The patriotism of Nigerians is heartwarming and affirms my oft-repeated
statement that we are brothers and sisters born from the womb of one mother
Nigeria.
With
regards to the Presidential elections that took place on February 23, 2019, it
is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states
which negate the results announced.
One
obvious red flag is the statistical impossibility of states ravaged by the war
on terror generating much higher voter turnouts than peaceful states. The
suppressed votes in my strongholds are so apparent and amateurish, that I am
ashamed as a Nigerian that such could be allowed to happen. How can total votes
in Akwa-Ibom, for instance, be 50% less than what they were in 2015?
Another
glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other states, with the
authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases facilitating these
unfortunate situations. (See attached links to documentary evidences).
Documentary Evidence
2. Unknown gunmen disrupting
election in Buguma, Rivers State. Video: https://web.facebook.com/infohq/videos/287855205222326/
3. In Bonny, Rivers
state; military shooting in all directions as voters and INEC officials scamper
to safety. Video: https://web.facebook.com/378378918890631/videos/1628170300662243/
6. Thugs unleashed on
a section of PDP stronghold in Lagos and set ablaze already cast ballots.
Video: https://web.facebook.com/MovedMe/videos/2141357352611781/?t=2
7. Yet more violence
being unleashed on voters in Lagos Video: https://web.facebook.com/chijo.james/videos/2033251100045441/?t=0
8. Thugs unleashed on
PDP stronghold in Lagos while security men simply stand and watch. Video: https://web.facebook.com/MovedMe/videos/2051281541576034/?t=8
9. Elections materials
burnt in Ago Palace Way, Isolo Lagos as voters scamper for safety. Video: https://web.facebook.com/ReportYourself/videos/254622185455897/?t=0
10. Thugs drive away
voters in Lagos. Video: https://web.facebook.com/MovedMe/videos/356608164944494/?t=3
12. Incomplete presidential
ballot paper booklet. Video: https://web.facebook.com/chisom.kanu/videos/2316573001708277/?t=0
13. Diversion of
voting materials and results in Okrika LGA, Rivers State. Video: https://web.facebook.com/378378918890631/videos/922240624833653/?t=4
14. Violence in Gokana,
Rivers State. Video: https://web.facebook.com/supergoldSGE/videos/298790380748632/?t=21
15. Corps member
killed. Picture: https://web.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=409779139830851&set=a.106216756853759&type=3&eid=ARB1vuPyfzeJfM62ynYC8lHS1ISKNsjKvgQuGlz9xTINLEJAPAx7P0DUOHQbXTubCS8f0K9msAjjpBV7
16. Destruction
of ballot boxes at Alafia Street, Coker Aguda, Surulere. Video: https://web.facebook.com/pulsenigeria247/videos/1528007930662719/?t=2.
The
militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy
and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship. In some areas of
the country, such as, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the
elections turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect.
This is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process in
the future.
I
am a democrat and there are democratic avenues available to present the truth
to the nation and the watching world. Already, many international observers
have given their verdicts, which corroborate our observations. I am sure more
will come in the coming hours and days.
If
I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within
seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations,
but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and
the South.
However,
in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our
democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019. 2007 was a
challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see
those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian
people.
Consequently,
I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be
challenging it in court.
I
want to assure my supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, we
will not allow democracy to be emasculated.
I
hope and pray Nigerians will someday summon the courage to defend democracy.
That is the only way we can move away from being the world headquarters for extreme
poverty.
WAZIRI ATIKU ABUBAKAR.
WAZIRI ATIKU ABUBAKAR.
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