Text of Press Conference by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Debo Ologunagba, on the Position of the PDP on the ongoing Collation of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election Results by INEC

February 27, 2023

PDP To INEC: Halt Announcement of Manipulated Results Now

…Electoral Commission Pushing Nigerians to the Wall

Gentlemen of the Press, we have called you to update you on our observations and concerns on the ongoing collation of results of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It is very clear from the votes as cast at the Polling Units across the country, that the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar substantially defeated the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in line with the expressed aspiration and Will of Nigerians.

However, it is alarming that INEC is aiding and abetting the rigging and manipulation of the election results in favour of the APC by flagrant and provocative violation of the express provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 by refusing and neglecting to transmit directly the results of the elections from the Polling Unit to the INEC Server/Website as required by law.

For clarity, Section 64 (4) (b) of the Electoral Act, 2022 specifically provide thus:

“A collation officer or returning officer at an election shall collate and announce the result of an election subject to his or her verification and confirmation that the –

(b) “votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from Polling Units under Section (60) (4) of this Act”.

Consequent on the above Section 60 (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, any result announced by INEC is ultra vires, illegal, and of no consequence unless they are results already transmitted DIRECTLY from the Polling Units. So procedurally, INEC cannot continue to announce results that are yet to be transmitted as expressly stated in the relevant Sections of the Electoral Act.

The integrity of this election has been compromised and vitiated by the admission of INEC officials that there was a technical glitch in the midst of the election which affected the effective functioning of the BVAS machines.

Furthermore, the Integrity of the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is at stake having regard to his multiple representation and assurances to Nigerians and the International Community that the Electoral Act 2022, is a game changer that will guarantee a free, fair and transparent electoral process especially as it relates to the direct transmission of election results from Polling Units at all elections.

It is therefore curious that the INEC Chairman will insist on proceeding with the announcement of election results which are not transmitted directly from the Polling Units to the INEC Server/Website as required by the Electoral Act.

Information at our disposal indicates that INEC deliberately refused to commence the process of announcement of results more than 48 hours after the close of election and collation of results from the various Polling Units, which result by law was expected to be transmitted directly into INEC Server/Website as provided for under Section 68 of the Electoral Act 2022.

This deliberate delay and criminal connivance by INEC provided the opportunity for the reported compromise, alteration, falsification and switching of election results in favour of the APC in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Ondo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Ogun and other States where our candidate was in clear lead.

The PDP therefore rejects the manipulated election results as announced by INEC.

Our Party cautions that INEC is pushing Nigerians to the wall by announcing manipulated results.

We are aware that INEC embarked on extensive and illegal cancellation of election results in many States of the country. For instance, in Sokoto State over 200 Polling Units results where the PDP is in clear lead have also been canceled thereby disenfranchising over 200,000 registered voters.

The PDP on behalf of Nigerians and in the interest of national peace, demands that INEC halts further announcement of manipulated results and immediately transit the authentic elections results from the Polling Units directly its Server/Website as required by law before continuation of announcement of results.

INEC should know that our Party, majority of informed Nigerians as well as International Election Observers already have the results of votes as cast at the Polling Units across the country. Our agents have been at alert and we have all the results in our data base.

The PDP will not hesitate to make public the election results as cast at the Polling Units if that becomes necessary.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

 

 

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES WINNER OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU

President Muhammadu Buhari heartily congratulates the winner of the (2023) Presidential Election, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reacting to the results just announced, President Buhari said:

“I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. Elected by the people, he is the best person for the job. I shall now work with him and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.

“The election was Africa’s largest democratic exercise. In a region that has undergone backsliding and military coups in recent years, this election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver for the people it serves.

“Within Nigeria, the results reveal democracy’s ripening in our country. Never has the electoral map shifted so drastically in one cycle. In the presidential elections, states in all regions across the nation changed colour. Some amongst you may have noticed my home state amongst them. The winning candidate did not carry his own home state either. That happens during a competitive election. Votes and those that cast them cannot be taken for granted. Each must be earned. Competition is good for our democracy. There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today.

“That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For instance, there were technical problems with electronic transmission of the results. Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further transparency and credibility to the voting procedure. However, none of the issues registered represent a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.

“I know some politicians and candidates may not agree with this view. That too is fine. If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence. If they cannot, then we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will – no matter how hard that may be for the losers to accept. If they feel the need to challenge, please take it to the courts, not to the streets.

“However, to do the latter means they are not doing it in the interest of the people, but rather to inflame, to put people in harm’s way and all for personal, selfish gains.

“After a degree of polarization that necessarily accompanies any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly. I call on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they signed just days before the election. Do not undermine the credibility of INEC. Let us now move forward as one. The people have spoken.”

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 1, 2023

 

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES NASS ELECTION WINNERS IN DAURA CONSTITUENCY, COUNSELS ON RESPECT FOR VOTERS

President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday evening opened his doors to welcome the winners of the Senate and House of Representatives elected to represent the Daura zone, the constituency that produced him.

The President gave them an important lesson: “respect the voters and make them feel important. If you don’t, they will wait in ambush for you in the next election. Depending on how you deal with them, they will keep you in office, or they will send you packing.”

He congratulated the Senator-elect, Nasiru Sani who obtained 174,062 votes, to beat the incumbent, Senator Ahmed Babba Kaita who had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP following his defeat in the primary elections.

Senator Kaita fell short by more than ten thousand votes.

President Buhari also welcomed the election of Alhaji Aminu Jamo, House of Representatives member-elect for Daura/Sandamu/Mai Adua Federal Constituency who defeated his PDP opponent by more than 10,000 votes.

The National Legal Adviser of the APC, Barrister Ahmed El-Marzuq, who led the elected representatives, informed the President that the good showing of the party was owed largely to progress recorded in the Senatorial zone under the Buhari presidency.

El-Marzuq cited several projects, which he said had enhanced education, entrepreneurship, social development and the development of human capital in the area.

The National Legal Adviser presented copies of results to the President.

President Buhari received the results full of appreciation.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

February 27, 2023

 

 

 

PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS RENOWNED PUBLISHER, GABRIEL ONIBONOJE

President Muhammadu Buhari sympathizes with the family of author and publisher, Pa Gabriel Omotayo Onibonoje, who was among the eminent pioneers of modern indigenous book publishing in the country.

President Buhari shares the pain of loss with the publishing industry, particularly the Nigerian Publishers Association, considering the historic and leadership roles that Pa Onibonoje played in promoting the culture of writing, reading and sharing of knowledge and experiences.

The President believes the memories of the renowned publisher will be preserved in his books and the many young people he inspired and mentored over many years.

President Buhari prays for the repose of the soul of the departed.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 1, 2023

 

POLITICAL, COMMUNITY LEADERS POUR IN TO CONGRATULATE PRESIDENT BUHARI ON APC/TINUBU VICTORY

Political and community leaders in President Muhammadu Buhari’s native Katsina State have continued to pour into his private residence in Daura to express their happiness, following the emergence of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the country’s next president.

Receiving Governor Aminu Bello Masari and the Emir of Daura, Dr. Umar Faruk Umar, who led members of their cabinets on separate visits, President Buhari reiterated what he had often said about the President-elect that “Bola Tinubu truly believes in Nigeria and is genuinely committed to the progress and sustainable future of Nigeria.”

He thanked the electorate for their massive support for the APC in the Presidential and the National Assembly elections, asking them to further mobilize for the upcoming gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections.

President Buhari profusely thanked the people for supporting him for two terms in office, which he will complete on May 29, 2023.

The Emir said they had visited the President to congratulate him on the outcome of the elections, and commended him for preserving Nigeria as an indivisible entity.

He described the preservation of the country as historic achievements.

The Emir said he was proud of his people in Daura who did not fail the President and his party in the elections.

“APC won everywhere,” the Emir said.

On his part, Governor Masari said he felt happy that projections by pundits that Katsina would not vote for the APC turned out to be false, saying that he was proud of what was achieved.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 1, 2023

 

Press Release

Presidential/NA Elections:

Leave Gov Wike Out Of Your Failure – Bro Obuah

The Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Bro Felix Obuah says the state governor, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike should not be blamed for the failure of any political party and the hypocrisy of a handful of desperate politicians whose hopes were scuttled by the electorate in last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

Bro Obuah said this against the backdrop of a seeming campaign of calumny against Governor Wike for allegedly interfering in the voting process in some electoral units in the State.

He described the allegation as baseless and unfounded because His Excellency having performed excellently well to the admiration of majority of Rivers people could naturally be expected to be rewarded for his commitment and selfless service to the people and that was exactly what played out during the election.

Bro Obuah noted that some unpopular politicians have formed the habit of dragging in the name of Gov. Wike in anything they do in order to draw attention and sympathy.

He recalled that it was Gov Wike who had raised alarm about the slow pace of the BIVAS machine at the point of voting. It is therefore ironical and irresponsible he noted, of anybody to come around to blame the Governor for any perceived systemic failure that was witnessed across the states and not only Rivers State.

According to the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council DG, the Rivers people are more informed and sophisticated to be deceived by such cheap propaganda and misinformation.

He challenged any person or electoral officer that claims to have been confronted by His Excellency in person or by proxy to distort the election results to own up or provide evidence to that effect.

“The best we can decipher from the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections is that anywhere the PDP candidates won in the state, it was rigged or influenced and anywhere it lost, it was properly conducted. This is not the spirit. In a contest where two or more people are involved and one is required, there is bound to be a winner and a loser.

“Besides, it is natural justice that what goes around comes around. Check it out if our sense of history is still intact, all the individuals crying wolf now, had had their own share of rejoicing and celebrations when others were crying and bemoaning the same electoral system they benefitted from. It is very wrong to think it is only good when the outcome is in your favour, and only bad when you are at the receiving end,” Bro Obuah declared.

He therefore appealed to Rivers people and residents to remain calm while the Independent  National Electoral Commission (INEC)  comes up with the rest of the results of the elections across the country, and discountenance any ill-conceived information aimed at tarnishing the image of the people’s governor, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike and also vote for the PDP Governorship candidate, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in the March 11, 2023 Governorship and State Assembly elections.

 

 

 

Pastor Jerry Needam

Secretary,

Directorate of Publicity & Communications

Rivers State PDP Campaign Council.

 

Tuesday,  February 28, 2023.

Demand for cancellation of presidential election treasonable – Ndoma-Egba

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has condemned in strong terms the call by some opposition parties for the outright cancellation of the presidential election held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Describing the demand for the cancellation of the election as treasonable, unpatriotic and selfish, Ndoma-Egba, an erstwhile Senate Leader and former Chairman Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), wondered why anyone would want to truncate the country’s democratic process at this crucial stage.

The national chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Iyorchis Ayu, Julius Abure and Ralf Nwosu respectively, while addressing a world Press Conference at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, said they were calling for a total cancellation of the Presidential poll and passing a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu because, in their words: “The conduct of the February 25, 2023 election has been marred by widespread violence, rigging, intimidation of voters, doctoring of the results, and violation of the laid down electoral process which was communicated by the national electoral body, INEC.”

But the legal luminary cum politician argued that “There is no provision in our laws to grant such a demand which is preposterous and selfish. It is even treasonable as they seek to truncate our democratic process and therefore destroy democracy.”

According to Ndoma-Egba, who is the Secretary of the Campaign Planning Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), “Democracy is about processes not outcomes. They should allow the processes play out. There are copious legal provisions available to them to ventilate their grievances.”

Stating further that the call for the cancellation of the presidential election was needless and not in the best interest of the country, the ex-Senate Leader advised that political leaders should desist from making provocative and inciting utterances that are capable of engendering crisis or violence.

He said what should be paramount in the minds of all well-meaning Nigerians at this point in time should be how to join hands and work together with whoever emerges as the next president to build and reposition Nigeria for greatness.

Meanwhile, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to be declared the winner of the election after securing a total of 8,805,420 votes upon the conclusion of the state-by-state collation of results at the National Collation Centre Abuja. Presidential flag bearer of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, scored 6,984,290 votes to place second, while the LP standard-bearer, Peter Obi, polled 6,093,962 votes to come third.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

SANWO-OLU: WITH TINUBU’S EMERGENCE, A NEW CHAPTER IN LEADERSHIP BECKONS IN AFRICA

 

• Lagos Governor congratulates predecessor on presidential win

 

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the nation’s democracy has recorded another major victory, following the emergence of his predecessor and leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the just concluded presidential election.

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a swift reaction to the announcement of presidential election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Wednesday, said Tinubu contested and won a fiercely-fought democratic battle, stressing that the victory reflected the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate’s belief in deepening democracy in the country.

 

The Governor said the choice offered the citizens to pick their leaders in peaceful electoral process further confirmed democracy as the only credible means of attaining power, with the people at the centre of the struggle.

 

Sanwo-Olu said: “Asiwaju has worked tirelessly in the past two decades to deepen democracy in Nigeria, building bridges across the length and breadth of the country. His political credentials, which are a product of his many years of genuine investment in human and national development have played critical roles in giving him the national spread and endeared him to millions of Nigerians.

 

“Asiwaju’s decades of political activism and democratic struggle are well understood by the people. They, in return, have built their trust in him as a true democrat and a man to work with for Nigeria to continue on the path of unity, economic growth and development.’’

 

Congratulating the President-elect, Sanwo-Olu said he is confident that Asiwaju Tinubu would work hard to return the country to the league of nations where economic prosperity, security and political stability are hallmarks of development.

 

‘‘I congratulate my leader, mentor and president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on this historic achievement. Beyond that, I am confident that you will, in no time turn around the fortunes of Nigeria for the better in all the areas for Nigeria to sit permanently among nations with stable political, economic and social development,” Sanwo-Olu said.

 

Tinubu, Lagos Governor added, will be leading Africa’s biggest democracy and set great example for Africans aspiring to lead countries and cities on our continent.

 

“I have no doubt in my mind that Tinubu’s leadership style and democratic credentials will soon become a major lesson to other African leaders, who in turn will benefit immensely as they watch Nigeria navigate her ways through the various paths to economic recovery, social and political development.

 

“Congratulations to Nigerians and all lovers of democracy,” Sanwo-Olu said.

 

 

 

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

01-03-2023