The federal government has asked former President Olusegun
Obasanjo not to “truncate” the ongoing electoral process in the country.
The presidential election results are currently being
collated in the federal capital territory (FCT).
The results of some states have already been announced.
Dino Melaye, PDP’s agent, had on Monday walked out of the
collation centre alongside LP’s representative and some other parties.
The group pulled out of the exercise after insisting that
results uploaded to the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) must be displayed before the exercise could continue.
On Monday, Obasanjo
said elections that have been marred with irregularities should be rescheduled.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed, minister of
information and culture, said Obasanjo presided over the worst elections since
Nigeria returned to Democracy in 1999.
Mohammed said the former president is not in the position to
counsel President Muhammadu Buhari on elections.
“Though masquerading as an unbiased and concerned elder
statesman, former President Obasanjo is, in reality, a known partisan who is
bent on thwarting, by subterfuge, the choice of millions of Nigerian voters,”
he said.
“As the whole nation waits with bated breath for the result
of last Saturday’s national elections, amid unnecessary tension created by
professional complainants and political jesters, what is expected from a
self-respecting elder statesman are words and actions that douse tension and
serve as a soothing balm.
“Instead, former President Obasanjo used his unsolicited
letter to insinuate, or perhaps wish for, an inconclusive election and a
descent into anarchy; used his time to cast aspersion on electoral officials
who are unable to defend themselves, while surreptitiously seeking to dress his
personal choice in the garb of the people’s choice. This is duplicitous.
“With a deployment of over 1,265,227 electoral officials,
the infusion of technology to enhance the electoral process, and the logistical
nightmare of sending election materials across our vast country, INEC seems to
be availing itself creditably, going by the preliminary reports of the ECOWAS
Electoral Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Observer Group, among other
groups that observed the election.
“Therefore, those arrogating to themselves the power to
cancel an election and unilaterally fix a date for a new one, ostensibly to
ameliorate perceived electoral infractions, should please exercise restraint
and allow the official electoral body to conclude its duty by announcing the
results of the 2023 national elections.”
The minister said anyone who is aggrieved with the election
results should approach the tribunal.
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