As Controversy continues to trail the coalition of results in the just concluded Presidential and legislative elections across the nation following the alleged manipulation of the electoral process,webteam@iplede2nigeria Lagos correspondent spoke to everyday Nigerians who shared their thoughts on their experience and the entire process.

Speaking on the election, Anthony Abakporo, Executive Director Breed Foundation said that Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has done badly. Much was expected of them because of their popular game changer Biometric Verification Accreditation System and IREV site.”

“We were told that results from polling units would be uploaded. As I respond to you now not even 15% of votes have been uploaded. Senator Dino Melaye was raising a pertinent issue that should have been given due attention but the INEC chairman was frivolous. On a live broadcast that would have saved INEC the shame of irregularities, if The INEC chairman had allowed the petition to take the front burner. For peace’s sake and unity of this nation, I advise INEC not to rig these elections in favour of anyone.”

Sharing his experience as one of the observers who monitored the 25th February 2023 presidential election, Human Rights Advocate and Executive Director RULAC, Okechukwu Nwangunma disclosed that, the election was far different from what I have witnessed in past elections. It has never been this blatantly violent and subversive.”

“The early signs that there was a conspiracy to sabotage the election was the late arrival of election personnel and materials, resulting in late commencement of accreditation and voting in many places. In some places, voting did not start until as late as 6 hours after the official commencement time, after some intending voters left in frustration. In some places, the election did not hold at all. There was mass disenfranchisement in many places. There was voter suppression in places like Lagos through intimidation and violent attacks on voters and electoral officials, and disruption of the voting process.”

“I was shocked to see Nigerians intimidating and threatening fellow Nigerians and attempting to force them to vote in a particular direction. I saw thugs of a particular political party beating up voters for not voting according to their dictates; they disrupted the voting process, carted away ballot boxes, destroyed ballot papers, abducted electoral officials and falsified election results. In many cases, electoral bandits shot into the crowd of voters, killing and injuring many. In none of the cases I witnessed or received information about did security agents intervene to stop the violence or arrest the violators? In some cases, security agents were part of the violence. In many polling booths, Presiding officers refused to upload results. Some, including a female Professor, were caught rigging elections.”

Explaining further, Nwangunma said INEC must ensure it doesn’t accept or declare falsified results that are inconsistent with the actual results counted and declared at the polling units in the presence of political party agents.”

“But more reassuringly, I saw the resilience and determination of Nigerians – youths, women, people living with disabilities, and indeed, millions of Nigerians who are fed up with a failed system, desirous of change, and determined to contribute to bringing about that change through their votes. But desperate and demonic politicians with their despicable agents tried to scuttle the aspirations of Nigerians through violence and manipulations.

All those who participated in electoral violence and their sponsors must be identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law, for deterrence.”

Sharing his thoughts, a retired military officer, Marizu Christopher said that I think the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections happened to be one of the largest turnouts I have ever witnessed in my lifetime.

The voting was different from other years when people voted for names of political parties, but this time people identified and gave their votes to people with tested and trusted characters. What happened shows that Nigeria will soon have elected leaders who will listen to those who elected them.”

According to a Security expert, Hope Nworah, “we did not have free and fair Election, although we never had, I thought this would have been different, but it only becomes worse.

I don’t know what we have concluded, the Election. INEC server that went down? the fight here and there? the burnt balloon papers? Etc

My opinion is that we just had a drill, am still expecting a free and fair election that was promised by INEC.

Similarly, Ebenezer Omajalile, Human Rights Advocate says my opinion on this yet-to-be-concluded Presidential and National House of Assembly elections is a complete joke and phony as far I am concerned.

I believe by now some person should be behind bars including the INEC Chairman for putting up such a poor performance and putting Nigeria in the face of the world as a Nation of scams.”

“I can’t imagine that over three hundred Billion was approved and expended on this election in terms of electronic transmission of results to the central server from any part of the country.

I can’t imagine the so call BVAS broke down when it’s mattered most, I can’t imagine the level of mediocrity in the disenfranchised Nigerians who trooped out in numbers just to cast their votes and ensure their votes count.”

INEC and the political Bravados had forgotten that Nigerians have developed a very thick skin to take on anybody who tries to play with their mandate.

My candid advice to President Buhari is to call the INEC Chairman and his unscrupulous Ad-hoc Staff to Order from setting Nigeria on fire as a result of their selfish gain.

This 2023 election clearly showed the position of who Nigerians want to govern their Affairs why can’t INEC set the record straight for once.”

A word is enough for the wise. It must be Nigeria first and frail and desperate politicians who care less about what people’s position is on the election”, he added.

Endurance Osibanjo, a Graphic artist says that the election was generally peaceful in my in Ijoko, Ogun State. I thank God that the bloodshed was not as expected even though the results were Massively rigged in most places across the country. But in all these, the populace has made their stand known. They have made a statement and have stamped it in the minds of the elites. Everyone has to sit up from on. Whatever the result, a new Nigeria is born and all hands must be on deck to see to the actualisation of this.

I say no to bloodshed and violence. It will only breed more hatred, destruction of lives and properties, hunger, etc. Let’s put our hope in God.”

Nigeria decides: Everyday Nigerian speaks on the electoral process

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