Nigerian youths under the auspices of Free Nigerian Movement have condemned the manner the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted the 2023 presidential election, insisting that the electoral body violated the 2022 Electoral Act, Nigeria’s constitution and its electoral guidelines for the polls.
Consequently, the group called on the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election held on 25 February, 2023.
The youths called for a reconsideration of the outcome of the election following protests, agitations and controversies which accompanied the poll, especially as a result of the electoral body failing to upload results to the server as expected.
Dr. Moses Ogidi-Paul, the leader of the group, in a press statement called for annulment of the polls and the installation of a temporary government.
The group pointed out that the country needed healing, adding that permitting the subsistence of a fraudulent process would continually breed fraud.
According to the group: “Our country needs healing. It will be counterproductive to allow a fraudulent process to subsist as fraud will eternally birth fraud. We cannot grow our democracy on falsehood and suspicion. The holes in our national fabric must be woven shut.
“One way is to immediately establish a Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Lagos State and other flashpoints of voter intimidation and violence during the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections. This will help build trust, confidence and further ethnic cooperation among Nigerians.
“As concerned citizens, we believe that our country is destined for greatness and are hopeful that in no distant time, our faith will nudge our dreams to reality. This is our prayer as we nurse the bruises of hope.
“For though they force us to the precipice, we will not curse our country or stand by those who curse it. We will not steal from our country whatever treasures it possesses in dignity. We will hold on to the promise of unity and faith, peace and progress,” he further stated.
