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How I was rigged out of Bauchi Senatorial election —Mustapha
From the point of view of your party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, what is your assessment of the 2019 elections and the conduct of the polls?
The elections have dispelled quite a number of long-held myths about Nigerian elections in terms of their outcome. The run-off to the elections was adjudged to be free and fair, and the votes of Nigerians were counted but the results were manipulated in favour of the privileged few. The elections were initially scheduled to hold on February 16, and March 2 for the 2019 presidential and the National Assembly elections, and governorship, State Houses of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils elections respectively. But the electoral umpire ran into logistics problems and had to announce its postponement in the early hours of the election day. We accepted INEC’s explanations, knowing that it was geared towards validating credibility in the electoral process. But to our dismay, the outcome shocked us as being the worst in the history of constitutional democracy in Nigeria. The number of post-election petitions being adjudicated upon at the election petition tribunals is a good test to the credibility of the elections. If the electoral process was transparent enough, I believe that every loser would have understood why they lost and prepare better for subsequent elections, rather than heading to the tribunal.
In your opinion, was there a level playing field for the candidates across the political parties?
I have observed an improvement in the political climate, inclusive participation rights and a peaceful voting, but intimidation of voters and lack of trust in the process undermined the fairness of the elections. We had positive election campaigns, during which political freedom was respected. I also acknowledge the peaceful and enthusiastic participation of voters on the day of election as they exercised their rights to vote. But I am particularly concerned with the practices of some INEC staff and security personnel, such as intimidation of voters, lack of transparency in the collation of results, media bias and some problems around polling stations on election day. I noted with dismay the invasion of collation centres by some prominent politicians, the abduction and inducement of collation officers to manipulate the collated results in favour of the ruling party.
You contested for and lost the Bauchi North Senatorial seat, what is your reaction to this outcome?
Yes, I contested for Bauchi North Senatorial seat election on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), but I did not lose the election. We were rigged out because the results declared didn’t reflect what transpired at the polling units. The result did not reflect the choices and expectations of the people of Bauchi North, and the process cannot be considered to have been credible enough to be accepted. My reaction to the outcome is contained in the petition we have submitted to the tribunal.
Going by some of the verdicts delivered by the courts on electoral matters, what is your assessment of the judiciary so far?
We have confidence in the proceedings, most especially at this time when our Judiciary has established a reputation for itself as the last hope for the common man. However, there still exists unsettled businesses, and deferred hopes associated with the litigations on-going in the elections petition tribunals. The judiciary must know that the common man and the generality of Nigerians will not understand and appreciate the vague maxims. All they know is that a court is a court and should do justice. Therefore, the general perception of Nigerians on the judiciary especially with regards to electoral and politically-related matters is nothing to write home about. The judiciary also needs to know that being in the good books of the people also has its own advantages sooner or later. Our confidence is manifested in the gravity of the evidence we have presented to the court. And we still have more convincing facts to tender in the incoming sittings. And I believe we’ll reclaim our mandate.
Are you intimidated by the personality involved in the petition?
I don’t know what you mean by personality involved in the petition. To the best of my knowledge, the case is between Farouk Mustapha and NNPP as petitioners, and Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, APC and INEC as respondents. Doctrine of the Rule of Law provides that the law is supreme and that all persons are equal in the eyes of the law.
What is your expectation from the court?
My expectation is justice through the application of the provisions of the law and what the evidence proves. The court should not leave room for suspicion, bias or favouritism. The procedures and decisions must be accessible and transparent and result of the application of the constitution and other relevant electoral laws.
How I was rigged out of Bauchi Senatorial election —Mustapha
Tribune Online
Source: Tribune
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