Obasanjo Urges Buhari to Address Concerns Over Polling Unit Disruptions

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent action to address concerns raised over disruptions recorded at some polling units across the country during the recent presidential and national assembly elections. In a letter sent to Buhari on Monday, Obasanjo warned that the disruptions could set Nigeria on fire and that immediate steps needed to be taken to rectify the issues.

Obasanjo, who has been critical of Buhari’s administration, commended the president’s efforts to ensure free, fair, transparent, and credible elections. However, he expressed concerns over the reported compromises of some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, which resulted in the cancellation and rescheduling of polls in some areas.

The former president noted that a lot of money was spent on introducing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units. However, he alleged that INEC officials at the operational level have been compromised to revert to manual transmission of results, which is manipulated and doctored.

Obasanjo also alleged that some INEC officials had received bribes to manipulate the election results, and urged the chairman of INEC to take immediate steps to rectify the issues. He called on the chairman to change BVAS and Server officials who had been allegedly compromised and declared that results from polling units without BVAS and Server upload should be considered void and inadmissible.

The former president called on Buhari to cancel all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test, and to bring back elections in areas where polls were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023. He warned that any attempt to manipulate the election results could set Nigeria on fire, and appealed to all Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful during this period.

Obasanjo’s letter has generated reactions from different quarters, with some expressing support for his views, while others have criticized his timing and motives. Some have also accused him of attempting to influence the outcome of the elections, and have called on him to allow the electoral process to run its course.

Reacting to the letter, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu denied allegations of any compromise of its officials, stating that “we have received reports of violence and disruptions in some polling units, which have led to the disruption of the electoral process in those areas.” He also stated that INEC officials were working to address the issues and ensure that the elections are free, fair, and transparent.

President Buhari has yet to react to Obasanjo’s letter, but his supporters have dismissed the former president’s claims, stating that he is merely trying to discredit the administration. They have also accused him of attempting to create unrest in the country.

The recent elections have been marred by allegations of irregularities and disruptions, with some polling units unable to conduct elections due to violence and technical glitches. There have also been reports of vote buying and ballot box snatching, leading to the cancellation and rescheduling of polls in some areas.

In conclusion, the call by Obasanjo to address concerns raised over disruptions recorded at some polling units across the country during the recent presidential and national assembly elections cannot be ignored. The allegations of compromise by some INEC officials and the resulting disruptions have cast a shadow over the credibility of the electoral process, and it is imperative that steps be taken to address these concerns. The peaceful conduct of the electoral process and the acceptance of the results by all parties involved is essential for the stability and unity of the country. It is therefore important that all stakeholders work together to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair, transparent, and credible.