The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protest against the announced results of the presidential election is gathering momentum in Abuja as protesters gathered around the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) awaiting the arrival of its candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, his vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and other of the party big-wigs.
The protest is coming against the backdrop of a BBC interview video of a confident Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, which has surfaced on social media, just as the United States has said that the February 25, 2023 election failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
A confident Yakubu had boasted of how the Commission had the capacity to electronically transmit results, citing the experience in Nasarawa, Ekiti, and Osun State, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Recall, however, that the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) machines failed monumentally, in what many suspect was an internal and external sabotage. A quiet investigation is said to be on by security agencies
At least two other presidential candidates – former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) – are also laying claims to winning the election, which has put the country on edge since results were announced.
Obi and Atiku have since initiated court processes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election after polling 8,794,726 votes.
Abubakar, 76, who has now run for president six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented finished the race with 6,101,533.
In a statement on Sunday, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said many citizens are angry and frustrated with the results, while some others are celebrating victories they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.
“It is clear that the electoral process as a whole on February 25 failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations,” the US Ambassador stated.
“As I said numerous times prior to the elections, Nigeria has accomplished much in just the two-plus decades since the return to democracy, and a gradual improvement in the quality of its elections in that time constitutes one of those accomplishments.
“The people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on February 25, but there are many angry and frustrated Nigerians as well as many who are celebrating victories they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.
“In the coming days, it will be important for the future of this country that Nigerians not let their differences divide them, and that the legally established process for resolving challenges to the election be allowed to take its course.”
The US envoy called on INEC to promptly address the challenges that can be resolved ahead of the March 11 governorship elections, urging the electoral body to undertake a broader review of the problems that transpired during the last elections and what can be done to fix them.
She also commended Nigerians for demonstrating their dedication to democracy, asking INEC to share with the Nigerian public information about the actions it is taking.
Leonard commended Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar for their commitment to take the legal path in contesting the presidential elections and also the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, for acknowledging their right to do so.
Meanwhile, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, was in Lagos on Sunday where he was received by supporters and party members.
Tinubu was received at the airport by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the media adviser of president-elect, Tunde Rahman.
Rahman stated that shortly after his arrival, the delegation proceeded to the Iga-Iduganran palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, where the monarch and traditional white cap chiefs were waiting.
Addressing the modest crowd gathered inside the palace, TInubu reassured Nigerians that he would not disappoint them.
According to him, he would work assiduously for Nigeria from the get-go and would not disappoint the people.
While thanking God and the people for his eventual victory, he likened the primaries and election he went through to a World Cup tournament, which is tricky and unpredictable.
Reacting to his home coming, Akiolu described the president-elect as a special breed “who is destined for leadership at the very top.”
At the gathering were also the monarch of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal.
Additional report by Channels Television