On Tuesday, a large number of irate protesters stormed the International Conference Centre’s National Collation Centre in Abuja to demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission implement electronic results transmission.
The development comes just a little over a week after a similar group gathered near the National Defence College, just a few meters from the center, chanting, among other things, “INEC, keep your promises” and “No IREV, no collation.”
Youths were enraged at the electoral umpire’s refusal to use a live feed to electronically transmit election results during the demonstration on Tuesday.
One of the protest coordinators, Ilemona Onoja, addressed journalists covering the protest at Emeka Anyaoku street, which is about a kilometer from the collation center. Onoja explained that their primary demand was for INEC chairman Prof. Mamood Yakubu to fulfill his promise of a free, transparent, and open process.
Onoja mentioned that they were shocked to see INEC officials writing out the results in violation of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines instead of the promised due process.
He stated, “We went out on February 25 to vote for our preferred candidates.” We were informed that a procedure would be followed. Voting, accreditation, and the counting of our votes are all part of this procedure. It will be sent directly to a central server after being counted. Additionally, that the central server will be displayed at the national collation center on election day, allowing us to monitor the results.
Now, all we’re saying is that we don’t mind if our preferred candidate loses; all we need is an open and transparent procedure. Allow us to view the outcomes. We are requesting that INEC adhere to a particular procedure because they have promised to do so.
Barrister Lillian Kozau, a second demonstrator, addressed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to have his legacy ruined by INEC’s actions.
She asserts that Nigerians deserve an election process that is open, well-coordinated, and transparent, revealing the winners immediately.
She stated, We were assured by INEC that the procedure would be open.
They promised a transparent procedure and said that the BVAS, which is supposed to be an electronic procedure, would be used. Nevertheless, 23 states have not yet been uploaded after three days. Why? Does this imply that we will perform this task for a week?
“Why will a result that has been uploaded be removed from a platform? What do they have planned? We only wanted a transparent procedure. We just wanted the winner of our election to become this nation’s president. We simply desired hope; We simply desired things to function. We are not overly demanding.
We don’t use violence. There is no weapon in anyone’s hand; Just trying to be heard is all we’re doing. Please, our president should reprimand the INEC chairman. We don’t care what happened after eight years. We are anticipating the future. Buhari must prevent his legacy from being marred. Allow them to follow the law. The name of the person elected by us as the nation’s president ought to be announced. Allow things to be done correctly.
