Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to address concerns over the alleged discrepancies regarding the results of the general election.
The presidential and national assembly election results are currently being announced, but some areas have recorded disruptions while party agents, such as those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), have rejected the results of some states.
There have also been concerns and protests on and off social media platforms over attacks at polling units, non-functionality of the bimodal voter verification system (BVAS), missing results on the Independent National Electoral Commission result viewing portal, among other incidents recorded.
In a letter to Buhari, Obasanjo said the President cannot afford to ignore the concerns raised over the electoral process, adding that immediate steps, including rescheduling polls in affected areas, need to be taken.
“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent, and credible elections,” Obasanjo wrote.
“It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated, and the results doctored.”
Obasanjo further urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rectify the errors of the last two days, stating that no result should be acceptable without the BVAS and Server.
“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity,” Obasanjo said.
He also called for the cancellation of all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test and for them to be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and for BVAS and Server officials to be changed.
Obasanjo suggested a committee of INEC officials and representatives of political parties and the chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) be set up to determine the areas where elections were compromised in preparation for fresh polls.
“Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realized. Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC. On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise,” he added.
The former president also appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience until the wrong is righted, adding that nobody should toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.
