Numerous protesters stormed the National Collation Centre at the International Conference Center in Abuja on Tuesday to demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission fulfill its promise to use electronic transmission of results.
A similar group had gathered a few meters from the center near the National Defense College less than 24 hours prior, chanting things like, "INEC, keep your promises," and "No IREV, no collation."Angry youths protested on Tuesday in response to the electoral umpire's decision to forgo using live feed to electronically transmit election results. Ilemona Onoja, one of the protest coordinators, spoke to journalists assigned to cover the demonstration at Emeka Anyaoku Street (about a kilometer from the collation center), explaining that their main demand was for Prof. Mamood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, to uphold his commitment to a free, transparent, and open process.
officials writing out the results against the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines instead of the due process that was promised. Sing displeasure over the electoral umpire's decision to forgo using live feed to electronically transmit election results. Ilemona Onoja, one of the protest coordinators, spoke to journalists assigned to cover the demonstration at Emeka Anyaoku Street (about a kilometer from the collation center), explaining that their main demand was for Prof. Mamood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, to uphold his commitment to a free, transparent, and open process. Onoja stated that they were shocked to see INEC officials writing out the results against the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines instead of the due process that was promised.
"We came out on February 25 to vote for our preferred candidates," he said. We were informed that a procedure would be followed. Our votes will be counted, and there will be voting and accreditation involved. It will be sent directly to a central server after being counted. And that on election day, that central server will be visible at the national collation center so we can follow the results.
"At this point, all we are saying is that we don't care if our preferred candidate is unsuccessful as long as the process is fair and open. Please make the outcomes visible to us. We are requesting INEC to adhere to the procedure they promised to follow. Another protester, identified as Barrister Lillian Kozau, pleaded with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), not to allow INEC's actions to tarnish his legacy. She asserts that Nigerians are entitled to an organized and transparent electoral process where the results of the contests can be quickly determined.
"INEC assured us that it would be a transparent process," the woman said. They assured us that the BVAS, which is supposed to be an electronic process, would be used and that the procedure would be transparent. Yet 23 states still need to be uploaded after three days. Why? Do you mean that we will continue doing this for a week?
"Why will a result that has already been uploaded be removed from a platform? Why are they doing that? We only requested an open procedure. We simply wanted whoever won our vote to become this nation's president. We merely desired optimism and a positive outcome. Not too much is being asked of us.
"We don't use violence. We are only trying to be heard; nobody is carrying any weapons. Please have our president summon the chairman of INEC to order. We don't care what transpired eight years ago. In the future, we are looking. Buhari shouldn't allow his reputation to suffer. Let them adhere to the law. We should declare the winner of our vote as president of the United States. Let everything be done properly.