A social activist and author, Reno Omokri, has said that forensic analysis of the just-concluded presidential election results of the February 25, 2023 has showed that there were over-voting in more than 10,000 polling units, which represents almost eight per cent of all PUs in the country.
He, however, told the the Nigerian judiciary that the world was watching the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) and hoped it will abide by the provision of the law as enshrined in Nigeria’s Electoral Act of 2022.
In a statement released to journalists Saturday, the former presidential aide also called on Nigerians to add their voices to that of millions of others against miscarriage of justice by the Nigerian Judiciary.
The statement titled, “An Action Call To Save Democracy in Nigeria”, said the alleged over-voting was only possible due to manual accreditation of voters and transmission of votes, rather than the legally required electronic accreditation via Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
Omokri said: “On February 25, 2023, Nigeria held Presidential elections in which the ruling party won.
“However, forensic analysis of the result of the election showed that there were over voting in more than 10,000 polling units. This represents almost 8% of all PUs.
“Evidence has been presented by both the Peoples Democratic Part, and the Labour Party at the Presidential Election Petition Court that the ruling party candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was declared President-elect based largely on the votes he amassed in some of these 8% of polling units where over voting occurred.
“Now this is very convenient, and too coincidental. And it is also unlawful.
“By virtue of Section 47 (3) of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, those results ought to have been cancelled, and the elections rescheduled for a later date when the issues with the machines would have been resolved. That section says: ‘Where a smart card reader or any other technological device deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any unit and a fresh card reader or technological device is not deployed, the election in that unit shall be cancelled and another election shall be scheduled.’
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justuce Kayode Ariwoola, who sits at the head of the judiciary, and who has set up the PEPC, made comments, on video, praising the ruling party on November 25, 2022. As a result of those comments, millions of Nigerians lack confidence in his ability to spearhead a judiciary that dispenses impartial justice.
“What I humbly ask of you reading this is for you to consider using your good offices, no matter how small you think it is, to add your voice to that of millions of Nigerians, and tell the Nigerian judiciary that the world is watching the PEPC and hopes it will abide by the provision of the law as enshrined in Nigeria’s Electoral Act of 202 2.”
