Response to a statement by Kassim Afegbua.
Let me start by commending you for staying steadfast to your principled conviction and belief on the need for power shift to the South after a straight and uninterrupted 8 (eight) years rule of the North in the person of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and a possible BAT Presidency. Safe for your choice of BAT and my preference for PO, we have a common ground on power shift to the South this time around.
You are perfectly entitled to your freedom of choice to associate with whomsoever pleases you. You are also entitled to your opinion.
However, your Press Statement under review looks highly illusionary, hasty and seems like an attempt to put the cat before the horse for so many obvious reasons.
The election that produced BAT as INEC’s declared president-elect was fraught with a lot of electoral malpractices, gross irregularities and a clear negation of due process.
The process that threw up BAT lacks credibility, transparency, accountability and is a betrayal of trust by INEC.
A lot of people including International Observers attest to the opaqueness of INEC in the handling of the said election.
We were also inundated with numerous audio-visuals of electoral malfeasances in the mass media.
BAT’s declared ‘success’ at the polls would have been very ‘sweet’ and most welcome had INEC strictly followed the guidelines they set for/by themselves with which they hoodwinked Nigerians to expect a free, fair and credible election which didn’t happen; the Electoral Act 2022 and the extant provisions of the operating 1999 ‘constitution’ as amended.
Besides, there is a lacuna of section 133 (b) of the operating 1999 ‘constitution’ as amended that is yet unresolved prior to INEC’s declaration of BAT as winner of the seriously marred election.
The mere fact that a thief successfully steals and escapes with one’s property doesn’t confer legitimacy of ownership of the stolen property on the thief whether caught in the act or not.
However, be rest assured that the last has not been said yet on the outcome of the February 25, 2023, elections to which INEC has declared BAT as the president-elect.
Interesting times ahead.
Echefuna’ R. G. ONYEBEADI
01/03/2023.
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