THIS DAY
The former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Monday alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been compromised to manipulate the results of the presidential election, conducted on Saturday.
Obasanjo specifically faulted the failure of the INEC to transmit the election results electronically through the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), via the INEC Server, which resulted in the use of manual collation system.
The former president expressed his mind in a press statement entitled ‘2023 Presidential Election: An Appeal for Caution’, made available to journalists in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo said he issued the statement to make President Muhammadu Buhari be aware of what is happening about the election, pointing out that there is danger ahead.
He alleged that what was been released manually did not reflect the wishes of Nigerians which they expressed freely.
While stating that he had in the past pointed out mistakes in some actions of Buhari’s administration, Obasanjosaid as far as the election issues were concerned, the president has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He said: “Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units. 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.
“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.
“At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money…
