20110421
leadership
The presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), yesterday alleged complicity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in an alleged massive computer-aided rigging of last Saturday’s presidential election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Buhari lamented that INEC chairman Attahiru Jega ignored the complaints of his party agents.

Speaking in the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA), monitored in Kaduna yesterday morning, Buhari recalled how CPC returning officers in Kano and Katsina states raised the alarm that computers used in collating results reduced CPC votes by as much as 40 per cent.
He said that, on further inquiry, this fraud was discovered in most of the states.
“We now said, let’s look beyond these states. We discovered that these computers would churn out figures less than what was recorded manually in the result sheets. Jega was aware of all these but, to our surprise, he went ahead and announced all the flawed results.”
Buhari, again, reiterated that CPC supporters in the South-East and South-South were disenfranchised. According to him: “Low voter turnout characterised the election in these two regions but to our surprise again, PDP recorded almost 100 per cent victory. The turnout was less than 35 per cent.
“Election observers can confirm this. Is it not curious that 100 per cent of voters voted for a single party? It meant nobody travelled or moved elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, Buhari has also cautioned his supporters against destruction of worship houses, describing the act as worse than the rigging perpetrated against his party.
In a statement released by his spokeman, Yinka Odumakin, he asked his supporters not to destroy their voter cards but, instead, use it to vote out their oppressors.
He added that the party would seek legal redress over the poll irregularities.
Reacting to Buhari’s scathing allegations that INEC colluded with PDP to massively rig the presidential poll, chief press secretary to INEC chairman Kayode Idowu told LEADERSHIP yesterday that the commission would not join issues with Buhari.
“The law provides for what should be done in matters like this. Besides, it is not healthy for INEC to join issues with people and parties in an atmosphere that is already charged. We should do what the law says; if anybody or party has a problem on the elections, let them take it to court,” Idowu said.
In a release by the CPC presidential candidate’s spokesman Odumakin, Buhari stated: “As I pointed out in my earlier address to you, it is wrong for you to allow miscreants to infiltrate your ranks and perpetrate such dastardly acts as the mindless destruction of worship places. Needless to say, this act is worse than rigging elections.”
He said, “Information has reached me that, out of frustration, some of you have been destroying your voter cards. This is a very grievous mistake, which is not going to solve any of your problems.
“I urge you to preserve and safeguard your cards, and come out enmasse on Tuesday to vote out and disgrace your oppressors who have stolen your votes. If you don’t do this, it will be feared that all your efforts would have been in vain.”
Buhari, who expressed optimism at reclaiming his mandate, continued: “May I use this opportunity to inform you that we have commenced consultations at the highest levels to recover your stolen mandate. I would therefore urge you to continue to be patient.”