A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has alleged that
forensic analysis of the presidential election results held on February 25,
2023, showed that there were over voting in more than 10,000 polling units.
Omokri in a statement issued on Saturday titled, ‘An Action
Call To Save Democracy in Nigeria’, said this represents almost eight per cent
of all the polling units where he said over voting occurred.
The social activist said that the world is watching the
Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) and hopes it would abide by the
provision of the law as enshrined in Nigeria’s Electoral Act of 2022.
He also called on Nigerians to add their voices to that of
millions of others against miscarriage of justice by the Nigerian Judiciary.
Omokri further alleged that the said the over voting was
only possible due to manual accreditation and transmission of votes, rather
than the legally required electronic accreditation via Bimodal Voter
Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
He 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 eight percent of all PUs.
“Evidence has been presented by both the Peoples Democratic
Party, 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 per cent of polling units
where over voting occurred.
“Now this is very convenient, and too coincidental. And it
is also unlawful.”
Omokri noted that 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.
Section 47(3) states: “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.”
Omokri recalled that on November 25, 2022, the Chief Justice
of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who set up the Presidential Election
Petition Tribunal, made comments on a video praising the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC).
He said 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 2022,” Omokri said.
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