#NigeriDecides2023: Protesters storm collation centre in Abuja

 

A group of protesters has marched to the presidential collation centre in Abuja to demand the electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

The protesters, on Tuesday, said they were members of different political parties who gathered to express their dissatisfaction over the inability of INEC to upload election results on its portal.

 

The protest took place at Emeka Anyaoku street, not too far from the international conference centre (ICC), the venue for the collation of results.

 

Speaking with journalists, Ilemona Onoja, one of the protesters, said the process as promised by the INEC to transmit results online “was not followed”, which is why they protested.

 

 “We came out on the 25th of February to cast our votes for our preferred candidates. We were told that a process was going to be followed. This process involves accreditation, voting, and our ballots will be counted,” Onoja said.

 

“After it has been counted, it will be transmitted directly to a central server. And that on the day of the election, at the national collation centre, that central server will be displayed and we will be able to follow the results.

 

“Now, all we are saying is, we don’t mind if our preferred candidate loses, just give us a transparent and open process. Let us be able to see the results. INEC promised us they will follow a certain procedure, we are asking them to follow it.”

 

Lillian Kozau, another protester called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow his image and legacy to be destroyed by INEC.

 

“INEC assured us that it would be a transparent process. They assured us of a transparent process and that the BVAS would be used, which is supposed to be an electronic process. Yet, after three days, 23 states still need to be uploaded. Why? Does this mean we will be doing this for one week?,” Kozau, said.

 

“Why will a result be deleted from a platform after it has been uploaded? What are they up to? All we asked for was a transparent process. We just wanted whoever we voted for to emerge as the president of this country. We just wanted hope; we just wanted things to work. We are not asking for too much.

 

“We are not violent. Nobody is holding any weapon; we are just trying to make our voices heard. Please, our president should call INEC chairman to order. Eight years have passed, and we don’t care what happened. We are looking to the future. Buhari should not let his legacy be tarnished.

 

 “Let them follow due process. Whosoever, we have voted for should be announced as the president of the country. Let things be done rightly.”