MEDIA GROUP WARNS ON SHIFTING BATTLE-FIELD TO INEC COLLATION CENTRE – SAYS ELECTION IS OVER – PARTIES & CANDIDATES MUST HONOUR PEACE AGRÈEMENT OR PROCEED TO THE COURT OF LAW
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has called on Politicians that contested in the just concluded Presidential Election and their supporters to abide by the Agreement signed under the Peace Accord spear-headed by the Former Head of State General Abdulsalaam Abubakar and his Team.
This the Group believes, would help in sustaining democracy in Nigeria and promote peace and progress in the Country.
The Media Group was reacting to the on-going declaration of election results State-by-State from across Country; stated further that the unfortunate interruption of INEC Election Results Declaration by some interested Parties at the National Collation Centre on Sunday was destructive and condemnable; adding that the INEC was following the official process of Election Declaration as contained in the Electoral Laws. It therefore called on anyone or Group with genuine complaints to raise it there peacefully or at the Court of Law.
In a strongly-worded Press Release signed on behalf of the Group by its National Coordinator Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi, it drew the attention of the Security Agencies to the destrutive interference of Result Declaration Process of last Sunday and advised the Security Agencies covering the Event to be alert by taking absolute control of the proceedings to ensure that such destructive attempt is nipped in the bud henceforth; as nobody or Group no matter how highly placed should turn INEC National Collation Centre to ‘battle-field where INEC is harrassed or intimidated, adding that INEC is not a contestant but an Umpire!
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria therefore commended INEC for doing a good job – stating that this year’s Election has been seamless, good and transparent.
The Group said emphatically that with the Nation moving to 72 hours after the conclusion of the Election, all Political Parties and their flagbearers now have the whole results as conveyed to them by their Parties Agents and they are only waiting for the INEC Official Declaration which must not be delayed any longer.
‘Let no loser shift the battle-field from Polling Units to Collation Centre, please, the Group declared. It said further that as ‘Orubebe Drama’ failed in 2015 – so will ‘Melaye Gimmick’ would fail this 2023 in-sha-Allah.
Reports that an opposition party and their collaborators are working on using court order to stop the Declaration process shows how desperate some contestants are! This means that they are not for BETTER NIGERIA but only interested in their selfish ambitions! No responsible court will grant such an order.
It finally called on INEC to declare the balance of the entire results TODAY, as the Media Group warned on the consequences of its further delay stating that ‘No individual or Group interest is greater than that of entire citizens of this Country’!
Nigerians are anxious to know their President-Elect without further delay, the Released concluded.
Signed
Ibrahim Abdullahi, FCIPM
National Co-ordinator,
Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria
28th February, 2023 / 8th Sha’ban, 1444
