The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Ethnic Youth Leaders have again exposed a plot to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop electronic transmission of 2023 general elections.
The opposition and other concerned Nigerians have also revealed a plan to pressure the commission to deactivate Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) from the server and cause leadership change in INEC.
Addressing newsmen at a joint world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Spokesman of CUPP, Ugo Ikenga Ugochinyere, alleged that “there was immense pressure on the leadership of the INEC to deactivate the BIVAS from the server, which pressure has been resisted by INEC hence the plot by the ruling party’s agents led by some governors to commence the plot to cause a leadership change in the electoral management body, which will consume top officials including the Chairman and the few National Commissioners, who are still insisting on the use of the BIVAS.”
The Opposition Coalition also resolved that they will petition the United Kingdom High Commission and the United States Embassy and alert them of the alleged new conspiracy, which threatens the Nigerian electoral process and regional stability and will urge them to keep vigilant eyes on the process as development partners and ensure there is adequate vigilance and support plus pressure to ensure the right things are done in compliance with extant laws.
The CUPP further said that they have also resolved to immediately approach the Court to seek judicial redress to ensure the electoral process is not derailed, adding, “the suit, when filed, will restrain the Federal Government, DSS, Nigeria Police, National Assembly, ICPC, CCB, EFCC, CCT, and Attorney General of the Federation, from stopping the use of BIVAS, deactivating BIVAS from the INEC Server, removing of the INEC Chairman, arresting or using an exparte injunction to suspend him, suspending him from office under any guise or any form of detention with the intention to remove him from acting as INEC Chairman.
It would be recalled that the CUPP had a few weeks ago also uncovered an alleged compromise of the voters’ registration exercise in some All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled states in a secret illegal operation code-named Omuma magic, which the opposition insisted that those behind the mafia operation should be arrested and prosecuted.
“The BIVAS is an electronic machine that will be used to electronically accredit all voters for the 2023 general election and also be used to transmit election results from the Polling Units direct to the INEC central server.
“The BVAS had been deployed in the last three cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states and has been observed to have generally improved the credibility of the elections as the perennial problems associated with snatching of result sheets and changing of results at collation centres has been solved,” the CUPP Spokesman explained.
He, has, however, warned that any further actions in trying to remove the INEC Chairman, deactivate BVAS or any untoward to compromise the 2023 elections will be a direct affront and challenge to Nigerian voters and the entire political parties and it will be resisted vehemently.
“We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari, if he is serious about his speech at the United Nations to ensure the 2023 election is free and credible,” Ugochinyere said.
The CSOs and the Ethnic Youth Leaders warned that any attack on the BVAS is an attack on the 2023 general electio, and the plotters should be put on notice that such an attack is capable of erupting to undesirable consequences.
Also speaking, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of Labour Party, Chief Peter Ameh, said that “the use of the BIVAS machine has greatly improved the outcome of elections in Nigeria, and the Labour Party can boldly say it is this confidence that Nigerians have in the system that has caused the renewed vigor which we have seen in the recent past in young people in Nigeria coming out to register and deciding to generally participate in the electoral process.
“That hope in Nigeria must not be allowed to wane because of the activities of a few individuals who are in power today. Power is transient, power comes from God Almighty, and nobody should attempt to hold onto power by all means, even without the mandate of the people.”
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