Not Only the Certificate, Allocated Votes Too

Free, fair and credible elections were promised by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC government for the 2023 general elections but what was witnessed by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation on February 25th in lieu of the presidential election was a well orchestrated heist.

In some polling stations where the Labour Party, LP presidential candidate was clearly leading in great numbers, ballot boxes were either snatched or burnt to ashes; many people of a certain tribe were either forcefully disfranchised or wounded.

In states where the hitherto two major political parties, the PDP and APC are in power via the governors, massive electoral riggings were executed in favour of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu; their respective presidential candidates. Of course, HE Peter Obi of LP was leading massively in such states as Rivers, Ogun, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, etc. in real time against the three major contenders: APC, PDP, and NNPP.

Yet, the Professor Yakubu Mahmood-led electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC went ahead to declare an apparent loser a winner, issued him a certificate of return and arrogantly shouted to the aggrieved parties, “Go to court!”

It was clear, crystal clear even to the blind that LP won the presidential election with good spread. Not only that, it was the only party to have won the former and present capitals of Nigeria, Lagos and Abuja.

When Tinubu of APC was announced “winner”, the whole nation went into a mourning mood instead of the expected jubilation. By such graveyard silence across the country on 1st March, 2023, it became so logical to the mad that the true will of dear people of Nigeria was subverted; their mandate was brazenly stolen from them.

It is just a matter of time and the ‘Certificate of Return’ shall be returned to its rightful owner. Yes, we are in court and the process has begun. It’s not yet over.

#ANewNigeriaIsPossible

Aaron-Okonkwo writes for PO Express Media, POEM.