The chairman of Big Tent Coalition, a support group for Obi/Datti presidential bid, Professor Pat Utomi has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the presidential election results held on February 25 in 12 states of the federation before conducting the governorship and House Assembly election slated for March 11,2023.
Briefing the press in Lagos, the chairman of the group said the review was necessary so that the electorate can have confidence in the electoral commission, just as it urged INEC to give the electorate assurances that the kind of voters system it will use in the March 11 election will be credible.
He said, “And the request of INEC to provide us guarantees of BVAS, what system they will use on March 11 and the general integrity of elections in Nigeria. But before that we want to urge INEC to show good faith and not wipe their server of the activities of February 25 in the excuse of having it ready for March 11.
“We also want to request that they administratively begin a review of the votes in twelve states with a procedure we shall precede that can bring sunlight into February 25. All we seek is sunlight. We accuse none and come with malice towards none, but are assured that our children will have better tomorrow if we ensure that sunlight.
Utomi said some of those states whose election results for the presidential polls should be reviewed are Lagos, Anambra, Plateau, Adamawa, Abuja and others.
Utomi noted that the reason he called for the reviews of the presidential election results was to give room for enthusiasm when people go out to vote, that their vote will count.
He noted that if the results can’t be reviewed in those states mentioned, there should be outright cancellation of the election results.
“But before that, we want to urge INEC to show good faith and we ask for an INEC review. Where that is difficult for the system we call for outright cancellation of the election of February 25 and ensured that enthusiasm is allowed to flow through to March 11 with assurance of a of a free, fair and transparent election.’’
Utomi therefore appealed to members of the Labour Party and its supporters not to give up, because doing such was like allowing evil to triumph over good.
