A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has condemned in strong terms the call by some opposition parties for the outright cancellation of the presidential election held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
Describing the demand for the cancellation of the election as treasonable, unpatriotic and selfish, Ndoma-Egba, an erstwhile Senate Leader and former Chairman Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), wondered why anyone would want to truncate the country’s democratic process at this crucial stage.
The national chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Iyorchis Ayu, Julius Abure and Ralf Nwosu respectively, while addressing a world Press Conference at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, said they were calling for a total cancellation of the Presidential poll and passing a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu because, in their words: “The conduct of the February 25, 2023 election has been marred by widespread violence, rigging, intimidation of voters, doctoring of the results, and violation of the laid down electoral process which was communicated by the national electoral body, INEC.”
But the legal luminary cum politician argued that “There is no provision in our laws to grant such a demand which is preposterous and selfish. It is even treasonable as they seek to truncate our democratic process and therefore destroy democracy.”
According to Ndoma-Egba, who is the Secretary of the Campaign Planning Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), “Democracy is about processes not outcomes. They should allow the processes play out. There are copious legal provisions available to them to ventilate their grievances.”
Stating further that the call for the cancellation of the presidential election was needless and not in the best interest of the country, the ex-Senate Leader advised that political leaders should desist from making provocative and inciting utterances that are capable of engendering crisis or violence.
He said what should be paramount in the minds of all well-meaning Nigerians at this point in time should be how to join hands and work together with whoever emerges as the next president to build and reposition Nigeria for greatness.
Meanwhile, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to be declared the winner of the election after securing a total of 8,805,420 votes upon the conclusion of the state-by-state collation of results at the National Collation Centre Abuja. Presidential flag bearer of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, scored 6,984,290 votes to place second, while the LP standard-bearer, Peter Obi, polled 6,093,962 votes to come third.
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU: WITH TINUBU’S EMERGENCE, A NEW CHAPTER IN LEADERSHIP BECKONS IN AFRICA
- Lagos Governor congratulates predecessor on presidential win
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the nation’s democracy has recorded another major victory, following the emergence of his predecessor and leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the just concluded presidential election.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a swift reaction to the announcement of presidential election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Wednesday, said Tinubu contested and won a fiercely-fought democratic battle, stressing that the victory reflected the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate’s belief in deepening democracy in the country.
The Governor said the choice offered the citizens to pick their leaders in peaceful electoral process further confirmed democracy as the only credible means of attaining power, with the people at the centre of the struggle.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Asiwaju has worked tirelessly in the past two decades to deepen democracy in Nigeria, building bridges across the length and breadth of the country. His political credentials, which are a product of his many years of genuine investment in human and national development have played critical roles in giving him the national spread and endeared him to millions of Nigerians.
“Asiwaju’s decades of political activism and democratic struggle are well understood by the people. They, in return, have built their trust in him as a true democrat and a man to work with for Nigeria to continue on the path of unity, economic growth and development.’’
Congratulating the President-elect, Sanwo-Olu said he is confident that Asiwaju Tinubu would work hard to return the country to the league of nations where economic prosperity, security and political stability are hallmarks of development.
‘‘I congratulate my leader, mentor and president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on this historic achievement. Beyond that, I am confident that you will, in no time turn around the fortunes of Nigeria for the better in all the areas for Nigeria to sit permanently among nations with stable political, economic and social development,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Tinubu, Lagos Governor added, will be leading Africa’s biggest democracy and set great example for Africans aspiring to lead countries and cities on our continent.
“I have no doubt in my mind that Tinubu’s leadership style and democratic credentials will soon become a major lesson to other African leaders, who in turn will benefit immensely as they watch Nigeria navigate her ways through the various paths to economic recovery, social and political development.
“Congratulations to Nigerians and all lovers of democracy,” Sanwo-Olu said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
01-03-2023
