*Say controversy over server unnecessary
About 60 presidential candidates in the 2019 general elections
have faulted the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential
candidate, Atiku Abubakar over the controversy surrounding the use
of a server, describing it as unnecessary.
They also criticised the report of European Union Election
Observer Mission which alleged a lack of transparency in the
guidelines of election.
The parties under the aegis of Joint Forum of 60 Presidential
Candidates and National Chairmen, at a press conference addressed
by Alhaji Mohammed Shittu, said the Independent National Electoral
Commission did creditably well.
The event was also attended by the Co-Convener of the forum and
chairman of West African Coalition of Political Parties, Chief
Perry Opara.
Shittu said, “We reiterate that the INEC server controversy is
unnecessary. It is a plot to discredit the election as political
parties never agreed with INEC in any of the several pre-election
meetings that results will be transmitted electronically.
“Parties agreed on a lot of issues with the commission and those
were implemented. It is worrisome that only one political party out
of 91 is saying a different thing on the presidential election
while at the same time praising its performance on the other
elections, especially governorship, conducted by the same INEC.
“INEC consulted widely and extensively, and together with
stakeholders of which we are a part of, came up with the guidelines
for the conduct of the 2019 general elections, which the commission
followed to the letter. We recall that nine out of the eleven
points for consideration we raised as candidates under the auspices
of the Inter-Party Advisory Council and Coalition of United
Political Parties respectively were adopted by the Commission. How
then can the EU-EOM accuse the commission of a lack of transparency
in putting up guidelines for the elections?
“Therefore, the report of the EU-EOM released over a week ago
wherein they alleged a lack of transparency in the guidelines of
election is bewildering. With all due respect to the EU-EOM, it is
left to Nigerians to decide how we conducted our 2019 general
elections.
“Going forward, we would like to urge President Muhammadu Buhari
to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment into law once it is
presented to him again by the National Assembly. That amendment
will hugely improve our electoral system and its processes.”