· Threatens sanctions over alleged voter intimidation, violence, calls for probe
· LP, Obi, AA, APM officially file petitions challenging election outcome at Tribunal
As earlier threatened before the conduct of the 2023 general elections, the United States has again vowed to sanctions Nigerians who were identified to have instigated the much condemned voter intimidation and violence that trailed the just concluded polls in the country.
This is as the country called on the federal government and other authorities to allow the legal process to take its course in the cases filed by both the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), and others, challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
The US in the statement regretted that there was increased violence and voter intimidation in the governorship and State assembly elections, when compared with the Presidential and National Assembly polls held on February 25.
It noted that despite the massive deployment of security agencies in many strategic locations, there was widespread violence in many states of the federation.
The which however admitted that the March 18 elections appeared to have had significant operational improvements, as polling stations generally opened on time and most results were visible on an electronic viewing platform in a timely manner, expressed huge disappointment over increased violence in Lagos, Kano and other reported states.
However, it commended stakeholders who spoke against the violence and intimidation melted on voters, adding that it was a sign of respect to democratic process.
The statement read in part “Nigeria carried out the second round of its electoral process with gubernatorial and state assembly elections on March 18.
“The United States is deeply troubled by the disturbing acts of violent voter intimidation and suppression that took place during those polls in Lagos, Kano, and other states. Members of the U.S. diplomatic mission observed the elections in Lagos and elsewhere and witnessed some of these incidents first-hand.
“The use of ethnically charged rhetoric before, during, and after the gubernatorial election in Lagos was particularly concerning.
“We commend all Nigerian political actors, religious and community leaders, youth, and citizens who have chosen to reject and speak out against such violence and inflammatory language, affirming Nigerians’ commitment to and respect for the democratic process.”
The US therefore threatened to sanction perpetrators, even as it called on Nigerian authorities to probe reports on election violence.
“We call on Nigerian authorities to hold accountable and bring to justice any individuals found to have ordered or carried out efforts to intimidate voters and suppress voting during the election process.
“The United States likewise will consider all available actions, including additional visa restrictions, on individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Nigeria.
The petition, jointly filed by Mr Obi and the Labour Party as co-petitioners, joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, Kashim Shettima (vice president-elect), and the APC as the Respondents.
As part of his prayer, Obi urged the court to either declare him the president-elect or nullify the entire election and order a fresh election.
He alleged that the election was characterized by various irregularities including the non-qualification of Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima to contest the election.
He further claimed that Tinubu failed to win the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and could not secure one-quarter of the lawful votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He also said that INEC did not comply with the Electoral Act and its own guide lines during the conduct of the elections.
Confirming the development, Spokesperson of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Yunusa Tanko in a statement on Tuesday said, “It is official the Labor Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has filed his petition to the presidential elections tribunal in Abuja. The process of reclaiming the people’s mandate has started.”
The lead Council argued that the president-elect “was not duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.”
Consequently, the petitioners are asking the tribunal to determine that all the votes recorded for Tinubu in the election “are wasted votes, owing to the non-qualification” of the president-elect and Shettima.
“That it be determined that the 2nd respondent ( Tinubu) having failed to score one-quarter of the votes cast at the presidential election in the federal capital territory, Abuja was not entitled to be declared and returned as the winner of the presidential election held on 25 February 2023,” the petitioner said.
“That it be determined that on the basis of the remaining votes (after discountenancing the votes credited to the 2nd respondent) the 1st petitioner scored a majority of the lawful votes cast at the election and had not less than 25% of the votes cast in each of at least 2/3 of the states of the federation, and the federal capital territory, Abuja and satisfied the constitutional requirements to be declared the winner of the 25th February 2023 Presidential election.”
Tinubu congratulated the elected governors and assembly members on earning the mandate of the people in the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.
Senator Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday, also called on the elected governors and assembly members to take urgent steps to unite the people and champion the healing process by embracing the opponents and their supporters.
Tinubu, however, expressed sadness by the reported infractions during the elections and its aftermath in some states.
“I strongly condemn it. Also, the report of arson after the announcement of governorship results in one state did not represent who we truly are: peace-loving people.
“The physical and verbal assaults committed are unacceptable and antithetical to democratic ethos.
“Elections should be a celebration of our maturing democracy and freedom of choice and ought not to be moments of grief. I am particularly pained by cases of ethnic slurs, which are capable of creating needless mischaracterisation reported in some locations.
“My appeal is for us to rise above our differences, which, in reality, are fewer than the valued strings that bind us together as a people irrespective of the circumstances of our births.
“As former governor of Lagos State, I can attest to the strength in our diversity and togetherness. As your President-elect, it is that spirit of inclusiveness we engendered in Lagos that I intend to bring into national governance so that together we can attain our full potential,” he said.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Abuja, declared Tinubu winner of the election with 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 6,984,520, and Obi polled 6,101,533.