‘Democracy losses its essence when votes don’t count’

A coalition of civil society groups under the auspices of the Free Nigeria Movement expressed regret that the promise of credible elections made by the Independent National Electoral Commission to citizens prior to the general elections of 2023 was broken in the most flagrant manner.

The convener of the coalition, Dr. Moses Ogidi Paul, said this on Tuesday, following the group’s peaceful protest in Abuja.

According to him, the protest was organized to call attention to the betrayal of public trust by those in whom Nigerians had placed so much faith and invested so many resources prior to the highly anticipated election.

“Today, we mourn the demise of credibility, the violation of trust, and the abuse of will,” he said. Today, we stand atop the ruins of transparency, where inclusion, equity, and responsibility have been embalmed.

“We are toneless voices deprived of our preferred music. Today, we are broken Nigerians pleading with INEC to count our votes.

On February 25, 2023, Nigerians flocked to their polling stations with one goal in mind: “to cast their votes and select their next leaders.”

“They qualified for this exercise by participating in the yearlong Continuous Voter Registration, which saw a spike that has not been seen since 1999 in any election.”

Months later, they returned to collect their permanent voter identification cards and returned home with a commitment to participate in and engage with the electoral process.

“The link of apathy was severed and cast into the bowels of oblivion. We were free to experience our Nigerianness to its fullest potential. Our ties were unbroken: in terms of ideology, they held us together; in terms of trust, they washed us clean; and in reality, they kept us alive. We fully embodied what it means to be a citizen in a secular, progressive society.” So, when the day finally arrived, we were certain that our votes would be counted, even in the portion of our hearts that always questions. The assurances of Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud, Chairman of INEC, bolstered our faith more than anything else. Remember that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 a little over a year ago.

“Due to its unwavering allegiance to the Nigerian spirit, the celebration that greeted this amendment deserves recognition as one of the most colorful in our recent history.”

“On that day, we did not identify as Igbo, Hausa, or Yoruba. We were neither Efik nor Tiv nor Urhobo. “On that day, we were not Gbagyi, Kanuri, or Ijaw; we were Nigerians filled with the positive energies of our land.”

He continued, “I regret to report that today, in the hearts of some, all of this has been wasted. You may have seen the video of the diaspora member ripping up his passport. Because INEC, through Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, chose to muzzle their voices, other Nigerians have similarly harmed the nation’s identity.

Therefore, I ask, “What is the value of democracy if the process that selects its leaders lacks credibility on a consistent basis?” Possibly, the answer lies at the International Conference Center, where Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud began, maintained, and concluded the collation and declaration of a candidate as the winner of the presidential election on the basis of a falsehood that violated the guidelines and the Electoral Act.

“It is extremely disturbing that this was done in full public view. Our democracy has never been so severely abused by public or private sector citizens. Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud has set a precedent for impunity that will require many years of electoral excellence to rectify.

“This was not the electronic transmission he had promised Nigerians and the international community at Chatham House. Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud has lied to Nigerians and taken advantage of our freedom of choice. We vote no confidence in him and demand his immediate dismissal and prosecution.

“We cannot afford to maintain a culture of lawlessness without repercussions. We are as robust as our statutes and as imposing as our institutions. We cannot afford to go any lower than this point.

“To INEC’s incoming president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we say, ‘power belongs to the people, and those who wield it must be qualified to receive it from the people.'”

“Only in this manner can power be held at their behest and for their benefit. A violent wind of voter suppression, thuggery, and ethnic bigotry propelled you to your current position. This is incompatible with the traits of a genuine Nigerian leader and therefore disqualifies you.” We have the audacity to assert that you are not our president-elect or president until a credible process deems you deserving. We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari, whose legacy currently hangs in the balance, to immediately initiate the processes and procedures that will place Nigeria under the control of an interim government pending the resolution of all litigations relating to the conduct of the February 25 presidential election.” Our nation requires healing. It would be counterproductive to give a man whose victory is viewed with complete mistrust the chance to become the number one citizen. We cannot build our democracy on lies and mistrust. The gaps in our nation’s fabric must be mended. One solution is to immediately establish a Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Lagos State and other areas where voter intimidation and violence occurred during the presidential, national assembly, governorship, and state assembly elections. This will aid in fostering trust, confidence, and racial cooperation among Nigerians.

As concerned citizens, we believe that our nation is destined for greatness and have faith that our faith will soon help make our dreams a reality.

This is our prayer as we nurse hope’s wounds. Even though they force us to the edge of a cliff, we will not curse our country or support those who do.

“We will not steal from our country whatever dignity-based treasures it possesses. We will uphold the promise of unity, faith, peace, and advancement.”

(TNT)