Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
There is calm in Onitsha, Anambra State, following the declaration by INEC of President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the February 23 presidential election.
Some traders and residents who gathered at the newsstand at the Post Office, Old Market, Onitsha, insist that the result did not reflect the wish of the people.
A trader, Mr. Obiora Nneji, described the election as a sham against the wish of the people but their votes did not count. He alleged that the wishes of the people were upturned by the ruling party and the electoral umpire in favour of the incumbent.
He, however, lauded the courage of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubukar, who has rejected the result of the election and promised to challenge it at the tribunal.
“But my fear is whether he will get the victory at the court because they had already started their plot from the judiciary.
“We should have hope and God will see us through because Nigerians cannot afford to pass through another hell for another four years, God forbid it. Is it the killings everywhere by herdmen, armed bandits, or Boko Haram insurgents? Is it the economy and hunger? People cannot eat two times per day.”
The Chairman, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Defenders foundation (HURIJE) Dede Uzor A Uzor, in his reaction, described the election as a fraud and robbery against Nigeria democracy.
“The election was fraud for instance in Yobe State where Buhari got over 400, 000 votes more than the accredited voters. The same thing happened in Borno where there is Boko Haram insurgency. Where did they get the result they announced in those states? Even in Delta, Anambra and other southeastern states who voted for APC for the party to get the number of votes they announced,” Uzor queried.
He called Buhari to resign because Nigerians have rejected him at the poll and Atiku should declare himself president because he is the choice of the people.
Anambra State Chairman of Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme said that the outcome of the election had left much to be desired, insisting that the people of South East were systematically disenfranchised due to the malfunctioning of card readers.
“The election was marred with the late arrival of INEC materials and officials, harassment and intimidation. There were alleged discrepancies between results obtained from polling units and ones officially declared. This must be probed. The loser should not take the laws into their hands but seek redress in court while stakeholders must unite to consolidate on the 2015 achievements,” he stated.