In this report, SUNDAY ISUWA writes on the sight and sound of the 2019 Presidential election that led to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari after defeating the main opposition candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and 71 others in the final resul
The elections which was supposed to hold on the 16th March 2019, was postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hours before the polls.
Citing logistics problems, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu had announced the postponement of the 2019 general elections by one week.
The presidential election was fixed for 23 February 2019 while the gubernatorial, State House of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils elections were billed for 9 March 2019.
On Saturday, 23 February 2019, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a president that will govern the country for the next four years.
Even though there were few reports about disruptions of the process in few areas of the country, the electoral umpire, INEC said it was insignificant to affect the announcement of a winner.
Announcing the results, at exactly 4:30am Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said the candidate of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari polled 15,191,847 to emerge winner while Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 11,262,978 to emerge second.
While addressing the earlier issues raised by party agents, Yakubu said they studied the submissions and drew the conclusion that it cannot affect the announcement of a winner.
“We are studying these documents,” Yakubu said adding that the figures of accredited voters to vote cast which were not tallying, were as a result of the number of figure that came later and they were added in about 37 places before coming to Abuja which he said is less than two percent and not substantial to stop the announcement.
“Secondly, the widespread incident of ballot box snatching also affect the figures. We believe that there was cancellations but in the case of the presidential elections, it did not affect the process,” Yakubu said adding that only Yobe and Akwa Ibom had their figures tally because they did not encounter such problems.
“We always say number of voters as collated because it’s not necessarily on the one given in the voter register. This happened in the off season elections but they don’t affect the total number of people that participate,” Yakubu said.
On the opening up of the back end of the Smart Card Readers requested by the PDP agent, Usman Bugaje, the INEC chairman said since it was not a matter of right under the law, it is a discussion they can continue even after the process.
“There is no end to all these issues and we have taken note. But for the sake of the process, let’s continue on why we have gathered today,” Yakubu had said.
But Osita Chidoka of the PDP said he acknowledged the hard work and effort put in place by the commission but added that the number of registered voters INEC published and the one that was used has a difference of about 1,0669 missing from the registered voters.
He said the total valid votes cast of 28 million has a difference of about 750,000
“The 5.1 million votes missing is greater than the 3.1 million votes with which the APC candidate leads. We recorded many states with votes without card readers. In Bauchi, Jigawa, Borno and other states, card readers were not used.
“If the card readers were used, it would have made it difficult for the APC to get such numbers of votes in those states,” Chidoka added.
The PDP agent who said the results should not be announced but be reviewed in areas where the card readers were not used, was overruled By the INEC chairman.
Yakubu said the assertion that 5.1 million voters could not vote because of card readers was untrue adding that cancellations were made where the card readers were deliberately not used.
“So, the figure you quoted, if they are from the Saturday’s elections, if you check the card readers, it won’t arrive at that. 35.6 percent is the national average for election conduct in Nigeria,” Yakubu said adding from their preliminary findings the figures quoted by Chidoka were not correct.
Yakubu, while announcing President Muhammadu Buhari winner during the signing of the Form EC8D, said INEC will start preparations for the 2023 general elections Wednesday.
The election had a total of 82,244,17 registered voters as collated, 29,364,029 accredited with 27,324,583 valid votes. Rejected votes were put at 1,289,607, while the total vote cast were 28,614,190.
In the final result, Accord got 19,029, AA 14,380, AAC 33,953, AAP 8,902, ABP 4,523, ACD 11,325, while ACPN got 7,223.
ADC 97,874, ADP 55,930, AGA 4,689, AGAP 3,071, ANDP 3,104, ANN 16,779, ANP 3,586, ANRP 4,340, APA 36,866 while APC win with 15,191,847.
APDA 26,558, APGA 66,851, APM 26,039, APP 3,585, ASD 2,146, AUN 1,092, BNPP 1,649, CAP 1,111, CC 2,391, CNP 1,874, DA 2,769, DPC 5,242, DPP 14,483 while Fresh had 4,554.
FJP 4,174, GDPN 41,852, GPM 4,924, HDP 1,663, ID 1,845, JMPP 1,853, KP 1,911, LM 1,438, LP 5,074, MAJA 2,651, MMN 14,540, MPN 2,752, NAC 2,279, NCMP 1,378, NCP 3,799, NDCP 1,192, NDLP 1,588, NEPP 1,524 while NFD got 4,096.
NIP 2,248, NNPP 6,111, NPC 10,081, NRM 6,229, NUP 5,323, PCP 110,196 while PDP emerged second with 11,262,978 votes.
PPA 21,822, PPC 8,979, PPN 4,622, PT 2,613, RAP 2,972, RBNP 1,792, RP 2,388, SDP 34,746, SNC 28,680, SNP 3,941, UDP 3,170, UP 1,561, UPN 1,631, WTPN 732, YES 2,394 while YPP polled 21,886.
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But PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar rejected the result saying that democracy will not be emasculated in Nigeria.
Atiku who thanked the Nigerian people who trooped out in their millions to perform their civic duty this past Saturday, said their patriotism was heartwarming and affirms his oft-repeated statement that, in his words, “ We are brothers and sisters born from the womb of one mother Nigeria.
“With regards to the Presidential elections that took place on 23 February, 2019, it is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.”
“One obvious red flag is the statistical impossibility of states ravaged by the war on terror generating much higher voter turnouts than peaceful states. The suppressed votes in my strongholds are so apparent and amateurish, that I am ashamed as a Nigerian that such could be allowed to happen. How can total votes in Akwa-Ibom, for instance, be 50 per cent less than what they were in 2015?
“Another glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other states, with the authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases facilitating these unfortunate situations,” Atiku said while attaching links to documentary evidences in a statement he personally signed.
“The militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship. In some areas of the country, such as, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the elections turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect. This is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process in the future.
“I am a democrat and there are democratic avenues available to present the truth to the nation and the watching world. Already, many international observers have given their verdicts, which corroborate our observations. I am sure more will come in the coming hours and days.
“If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.
“However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, 23 February, 2019. 2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.
“Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the 23 February, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.”
Atiku assured his supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, they will not allow democracy to be emasculated.
But the president elect, Muhammadu Buhari who was visibly happy about the outcome of the election he emerged winner, while receiving his certificate of return with his vice president elect, said Nigeria was moving to the next level haven achieved a free and fair election.
Accompanied by his wife to collect his certificate of return, Buhari advised those who lost to put the interest of the country first.
“I am grateful to God for sparing our lives to witness another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development – namely conclusion of the Presidential election in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner,” Buhari said.
“I wish, Mr Chairman, to congratulate all the Presidential candidates and their teams on a hard-fought campaign. We may have had different views during the campaign, but the one thing most of us have in common is love of our country and our desire to improve conditions for Nigerians.
“From the comments of several observers both local and foreign, it is obvious that the elections were both free and fair.
“Now that the elections are over, and a winner declared, we must all see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country. That was why I encouraged my teeming supporters, in a speech I read earlier today, not to gloat. Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition. All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.
“I therefore want to assure that we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart. Our Government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open. That is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous, and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices.
“The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all. We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all. We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of.
“I am very grateful to the over 15 million citizens who voted for me, those who contributed in many ways in the running of our successful campaign, and those at home and abroad who expressed confidence in me and the APC Government. I thank you all.
“I can assure that you will see a country moving to the Next Level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption. Many other focal areas, as stated in our campaign manual, will be added, to the good things we plan for our country.
Buhari who paid tribute to those who lost their lives either through accidents or mindless violence during the course of these elections, said: “My heart and thoughts are with the families of the victims. May God comfort and give them the fortitude to bear the loss. Election is not war, and should never be seen as a do or die affair. I pray that we all accept this democratic approach to elections, however contentious.
