Clark, Adebanjo and others criticize February 25 presidential poll.
Written by Joey Shekwonuzhibo on March 16, 2023
Leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum have announced their rejection of the outcome of the 25 February 2023 presidential poll.
Their position was announced through an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was signed by Ijaw leader Edwin Clark; elder statesman Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Pogu Bitrus and Ambassador Okey Emuchay.
They claim that the election was neither free, nor fair and urged President Buhari to act.
Their rejection comes a day after the immediate past British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Lang, rated the presidential and National Assembly elections above average.
As that is going on, the presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, is saying that despite the seeming desperation of some governors to win the March 18 governorship elections, law enforcement agencies will clampdown any acts of voter intimidation and violence during the poll.
Shehu made the assertion on a national television earlier today.
He says despite the growing concerns over governors’ reported plans to rig the election in Rivers, Edo, Enugu, Kano and others, the will of Nigerians will prevail.
He argues that president Muhammadu Buhari is above conspiracy in the outcome of the February 25 elections, which many Nigerians alleged was tilted to the favour of the governing APC.
On the same vein, Garba Shehu, is saying that the results of the February 25 presidential election came as a shock to many who had declared a winner before the Independent National Electoral Commission did.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made the observation earlier today.
He says despite the irregularities observed in the conduct of the February 25 election, it remained the most improved in Nigeria’s history.
In a statement he signed, Shehu had argued that the Buhari regime had laid the groundwork for credible elections in the country.
However, he says it is left for INEC to manage the collation of results.
