Atiku marches his supporters to INEC and threatens daily protests.
Days after announcing his intention to challenge the results of the February 25 elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar led a protest march to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja yesterday.
‘Save our democracy from INEC,’ placards read. ‘INEC is an enemy of Nigerian democracy,’ ‘Cancel 2023 general elections now,’ ‘We stand for justice, we fight for a new Nigeria,’ and ‘Nigerians have lost faith in INEC,’ among other slogans, demonstrators marched from Legacy House, the PDP presidential campaign office, through the British High Commission in Abuja, the National University Commission (NUC) office, to the Maitama office of the electoral umpire, to protest the outcome of the election
Protesters included PDP governors and top party officials such as national chairman Iyorchia Ayu, former national chairman Uche Secondus, chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Senator Dino Melaye, among others.
Atiku and party leaders, dressed in black, reiterated their earlier rejection of the results, claiming that the election was marred by irregularities and that they would challenge it in court.
The party also filed a protest letter with INEC, which was received by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee.
Earlier, before Okoye received the petition, Atiku stated that the party would continue its daily protest for a long time, adding that the exercise would not prevent them from going to court to challenge the election results.
He stated: “We are protesting and we have every right to protest. It doesn’t stop us from going to court. We will protest for a very long time, either everyday or every other day.”
Excerpts of the petition reads: “PDP detests and condemns this absurdity and brazen rape of our electoral process. Nigeria should be seen as a country governed by the rule of law and it is a responsibility we collectively owe our citizens desirous of entrenching true democratic principles and the rule of law.
“In consideration of the foregoing, the leadership of PDP, acting on the mandate of the electorate, has resolved as follows: To reject and declare as unacceptable the outcome, announcement and declaration of the presidential election results.
“To call on your Commission to suspend the ongoing transmission of the Polling Units results to your Server, which is in complete breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“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. Any attempt to manipulate the electoral process will be vehemently resisted.
“To 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.”
After receiving the letter, Okoye stated that the Commission acted in the best interests of Nigerians, not any particular political party. He promised to address all corrective measures.
“So, I have received this protest letter on behalf of the INEC chairman and I promise you this letter will be transmitted to him. If there are remedial issues, we will deal with those remedial issues.
“But I want to assure you that this Commission is a listening Commission; this Commission is a public trust and this Commission belongs to the Nigerian people. Our allegiance is to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This Commission does not owe allegiance to any political party,” he added.
HOWEVER, reacting to the protest, the President-elect has called on Atiku to retire from politics and go take a rest in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“At 77 in November, Atiku does not have age on his side again. He has participated in his last election and hopefully, he has learnt worthy lessons, never to place his selfish interest above party and established principles in his party and the polity,” he noted.
Tinubu, who spoke through his aide on media and publicity, Bayo Onanuga, expressed surprise that Atiku embarked on the protest march after promising to seek redress in court.
He added: “What was on display by Atiku and his motley crowd was a new low from the perennial election loser. With Atiku staging a theatre of the absurd, we fail to see how a march to INEC by a scanty crowd will provide any victory window for him and his fragmented PDP. The only recourse open to Atiku after the electoral umpire declared Tinubu the President-elect is the election petition tribunal.
“INEC headquarters is not a court where the prayers of Atiku can be answered. No amount of theatrical display will give him succour. The honourable and lawful path to take is for Atiku to get his lawyers to plead his case in court
Watch video below:
Atiku marches his supporters to INEC and threatens daily protests
See reactions below
@thesystem_man: But these politicians are funny. In 2019, there were some evidences proving that Atiku won the election, why didn’t he do this then. You see that stuff they always say about ‘doing the right thing at the wrong time’ 😂😂 He is a political heavyweight, but this won’t hold water.
@donvicky87: The funny thing about this crowd now, is that if you gather them now, and start presidential election there without cash inducement, Peter Obi will win hands down.
@proffemzy1: What is this one protesting about , he shouldn’t waste his time .. na Labour Party suppose dey do all this ones , cause he was ripped in pure day light
@McdanielsC: It’s funny how he isn’t attacked. I don’t see APC thugs bantering and insulting, if one obidient tweet “we‘lol get back our mandate, he go collect insults from all angles”.
@Urbanspiritt09: Protesting inside a bullet proof SUV, that one na protest?🤦🏼♂️😏😏
@iamsirzudo: Where is @renoomokri at this moment…….. He was busy throwing bad words to obidients before election and now he is nowhere to be found
@thesystem_man: But these politicians are funny. In 2019, there were some evidences proving that Atiku won the election, why didn’t he do this then. You see that stuff they always say about ‘doing the right thing at the wrong time’ 😂😂 He is a political heavyweight, but this won’t hold water.
@donvicky87: The funny thing about this crowd now, is that if you gather them now, and start presidential election there without cash inducement, Peter Obi will win hands down.
@proffemzy1: What is this one protesting about , he shouldn’t waste his time .. na Labour Party suppose dey do all this ones , cause he was ripped in pure day light
@McdanielsC: It’s funny how he isn’t attacked. I don’t see APC thugs bantering and insulting, if one obidient tweet “we‘lol get back our mandate, he go collect insults from all angles”.
@Urbanspiritt09: Protesting inside a bullet proof SUV, that one na protest?🤦🏼♂️😏😏
@iamsirzudo: Where is @renoomokri at this moment…….. He was busy throwing bad words to obidients before election and now he is nowhere to be found
