Anambra East LGA, Anambra State – As the 2023 general elections have come and gone, and aggrieved parties are currently in court seeking redress, a group of Igbo women under the umbrella of Omambala Women Stakeholders Forum (OWSF) has named some Nigerian politicians they claim contributed to jeopardising the expected outcome of the 2023 elections.
Speaking to reporters, including Legit.ng’s regional reporter in Anambra, Mokwugwo Solomon, after their annual general meeting in Otuocha, Anambra East local government area of Anambra state, on Tuesday, April 18, the administrative secretary of the forum, Dr Lilian Izualor, said that if those responsible for the flawed electoral process in the 2023 general election were arrested and prosecuted, Nigerian politicians would be unlikely to engage in electoral malpractices.
Dr. Izualor accused Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, among others, of helping to rig the 2023 general elections.
She stated, ”
“The INEC chairman announced the APC presidential candidate as president-elect while knowing Tinubu did not fulfil the constitutional qualifications to be declared winner.” The action tarnished Nigeria and Nigerians. Furthermore, he ignored the election norms in favour of his own preferences, resulting in a dubious statement. Currently, there is much disagreement regarding how to handle INEC’s political acrobatics in that election.
“Tinubu has a lot of problematic antecedents.” Aside from allegedly influencing INEC to proclaim him the wrongful winner, the APC candidate is beset with concerns that would cause the presidential tribunal and the Supreme Court significant consternation.
“River State Governor Nyesom Wike is not left out of this situation.” Isn’t it public knowledge that the governor altered Rivers state presidential election results to favour the APC candidate over Peter Obi, who was declared the winner?
“The activities of these three persons are the main reasons Nigerians believe their mandate has been hijacked.” If INEC, APC, and Wike had followed the rules, the election outcome would have been quite different.”
While asking for the immediate arrest of INEC Chairman and APC Presidential Candidate, the group also asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the EFCC to go after Governor Wike as soon as he steps down as governor.
It also urged the judges and President Muhammadu Buhari to address problems made by Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party before the May 29 handover so that Nigeria is not driven into anarchy.
