2023: INEC pushing Nigeria to precipice of violence– Osuntokun

The Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, on Sunday, called on Nigerians to be vigilant and noted that “Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the one now pushing the country to the precipice of violence by its deliberate inefficiency and failures to implement the provisions of the electoral law.”

He expressed the party’s displeasure at the conduct of INEC officials in most parts of Lagos, Imo, Rivers and Delta states, where he said a substantial number of his party members were disenfranchised.

The DG expressed gratitude to Nigerians for maintaining the peace in the face of provocation by status quo politicians working in cahoots with INEC officials in an attempt to subvert their collective will.

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Osuntokun said, “INEC should not throw Nigeria into crisis. First, we are grateful to God that Nigerian election has not become the bloodshed that many enemies of our dear country had predicted.

“We thank Nigerian people that in spite of the glaring failures of INEC and the deliberate criminality of status quo politicians, they came out and stayed throughout and peacefully cast their votes.

“We are grateful to young Nigerians for their faith in Nigeria and the vision of greatness and justice we have offered them.

“We note that many polling units in Rivers State, Imo State, Delta State, and Lagos State did not vote because INEC did not send any voting materials and officials to these places.

“There is the case of Unit 16, Ward 53 at Ogbogoro Secondary School in Obio-Akpo LGA with more than 700 voters who are strong Labour Party supporters.

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“This selective disenfranchisement violates the constitutional rights of Nigerians and a deliberate plan to deny Labour Party of deserved sweeping victory at the polls.

“At this point we want to alert Nigerians that the rest lies on INEC. INEC’s performance in this election has been disgraceful. We are sad that there is unnecessary delay in transmitting results from across the country.

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“Nigerian people will not accept any later transmission of fake results. We have received intelligence of effort being made in Imo State, Rivers State, Lagos State, and several other states to compromise the results.

“We call on INEC to quickly upload the results of the pooling units. INEC leadership should resist the attempt by governors and leading politicians in these states to subvert the will of the people.”