Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar says the outcome of the February 25, 2023, Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria was “a rape of democracy”.
Addressing a World Press Conference in Abuja on Thursday evening, Atiku said the dreams and aspirations of Nigerians who despite the challenges came to cast their votes in last Saturday’s elections were shattered “…by the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which failed woefully to live up to expectation”.
According to him, the elections were neither free nor fair adding that “Preliminary assessment indicates that it is the worst conducted elections under a democratic rule”.
Continuing he said, “The manipulation and fraud that attended this election were unprecedented in the history of our nation. I can still not understand why the electoral umpire was such in a hurry to conclude collation and announcement of the results given the number of complaints and irregularities of bypassing of BVAS, IReV and unprecedented cancellation and disenfranchisement of millions of voters in breach of the electoral act and the commission’s own guidelines.
“Having consulted with leaders of our party and Nigerians from different walks of life, I have come to the conclusion that the processes and outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections of last Saturday were grossly flawed in every material particular and as such must be challenged by all of us.
“I want to believe that this was not the legacy that President Muhammadu Buhari has promised. For President Buhari, it is not too late to make amends for the good of our country and future generations and indeed to ensure his legacy.
“This battle to right the wrongs of Saturday is not about me at all. It is about you and it is about the future of those of you who are seated here. It is also a continuation of my battle to deepen democracy and for better life for our people. It is about the future of Nigerian youths.
“It is my hope that the judiciary will redeem itself this time around and rise to the society’s expectation as the last hope of our people. In the end, who wins is not as important as the credibility of our elections and electoral processes.”
