FROM CANCELATION TO “VICTORY” THE ABRACADABRA OF THE FCT SENATORIAL ELECTION.

“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” - George Orwell.

As most of The 36 states making up the Federal Republic of Nigeria prepare for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, it is pertinent to study the “‘37th’ State”; only considered ‘A State’ when it pertains to qualifications of the 25% of a Presidential bid. This is The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whose status of statehood is called upon when deemed fit.

The FCT unlike any other state has one elected Senator and two members of The Federal House of Representatives; Making it the least territory with federal representation in the country. It is unfortunate that an area with almost two times the land mass of Lagos state is classified as one senatorial district. Somehow forgetting that that land mass is occupied by people of different customs/traditions and therefore need their interests adequately represented.

Moving away from this constitutional injustice, the Senate race In the FCT was keenly anticipated and one to watch out for as it had the Four (4) major political parties were properly represented. On the most anticipated Election Day, the atmosphere in the nation’s capital which was most likely going to set the pace for the rest of the country: Elections began staggered in almost all the Area Councils as INEC faced a barrage of logistical problems, even in the municipal area. How INEC who assured Nigerians of their preparedness did not anticipate and prepare for logistical issues are beyond us.
Unsurprisingly, most Areas Council’s election materials arrived late, some incomplete and some did not arrive at all, this obviously set the course for massive disenfranchisement. The PVC collection rate as announced by INEC was over 90% but by the time final election results were released the turn out rate was below 25%. The Tenor of this election begs the question, was the percentage of turn out low or was the electorates disenfranchised?

This may be elucidated that the low turnout was not because the FCT constituents did not come out to vote, but may very well be a well coordinated and arranged plan that had a preconceived ripple effect around the territory.
In spite of all these challenges the resilient people of the FCT ensured that they exercise their constitutional right by casting their votes; defying long lines, logistical and accreditation issues. Election process in most parts of the FCT were still ongoing till the early hours of Sunday morning and some elections that same Saturday were totally cancelled in some areas by evening due to irregularities.
During this upheaval, it came as a suprise when by 6pm on Election Day, while voting was still ongoing in a lot of wards and almost area councils some certain candidates had already starting declaring themselves as winners of the election in the FCT. The real propaganda machinery kicked in and unrealistic and unverified results flooded social media. The mob kicked in and began to challenge a process that was barely completed and as we look back, this seems to be the all orchestrated to play out this way
As collation continued there were so many discrepancies that it was impossible for even forensic experts to tell how INEC had arrived at such. The candidate of the Labour party released a video where she played down this discrepancies, she claimed it was just an error that everyone could see. The returning officers for BWARI and ABAJI area councils had raised the issues and refused to accept the results. The Returning officer for the FCT professor Sani Saka had also rejected the results which were presented at the FCT coalition center. But Labour party immediately began to blackmail and attacks the professor who was only carrying out his duties In accordance with the laid out procedures and guidelines of The Electoral Act.

Without addressing the issues and following the guidelines and processes of the electoral act; the returning officer, On Tuesday the 28th of February announced the Labour party candidate as the winner of the elections. At the point of the announcement only 1216 out of 2822 results had been uploaded on the IREV portal. This means or show results in less than 50% of the FCT were available, of which discrepancies in the results uploaded were glaring. From mutilated result sheets to pictures of individuals uploaded as results. We saw results that seemed like they were from elections in 2003 reappear at the collation center

It is unfortunate that the process of the general elections in the FCT which should not be credible enough to elect the senior prefect of a secondary school or the chairman of a motor parks association, has been used to elect the highest federal representative available to them.
Another baffling outcome of this bastardized elections, is that the supposed winners have continued to call press conferences and attack the process that made them emerge victorious. They have continually accused the electoral umpire of trying to change a result that has already been declared.

It is unfortunate that in 2023 we could witness such an electoral jamboree, even after INEC claims to have been very well prepared with their technology. We hope that INEC will do better in subsequent elections in other jurisdictions. The Nigerian populace and the people of FCT want a free and fair electoral process and not an expensive live Harry Houdini show.

techdaddycool:


FROM CANCELATION TO “VICTORY” THE ABRACADABRA OF THE FCT SENATORIAL ELECTION.

“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” - George Orwell.

As most of The 36 states making up the Federal Republic of Nigeria prepare for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, it is pertinent to study the “‘37th’ State”; only considered ‘A State’ when it pertains to qualifications of the 25% of a Presidential bid. This is The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whose status of statehood is called upon when deemed fit.

The FCT unlike any other state has one elected Senator and two members of The Federal House of Representatives; Making it the least territory with federal representation in the country. It is unfortunate that an area with almost two times the land mass of Lagos state is classified as one senatorial district. Somehow forgetting that that land mass is occupied by people of different customs/traditions and therefore need their interests adequately represented.

Moving away from this constitutional injustice, the Senate race In the FCT was keenly anticipated and one to watch out for as it had the Four (4) major political parties were properly represented. On the most anticipated Election Day, the atmosphere in the nation’s capital which was most likely going to set the pace for the rest of the country: Elections began staggered in almost all the Area Councils as INEC faced a barrage of logistical problems, even in the municipal area. How INEC who assured Nigerians of their preparedness did not anticipate and prepare for logistical issues are beyond us.
Unsurprisingly, most Areas Council’s election materials arrived late, some incomplete and some did not arrive at all, this obviously set the course for massive disenfranchisement. The PVC collection rate as announced by INEC was over 90% but by the time final election results were released the turn out rate was below 25%. The Tenor of this election begs the question, was the percentage of turn out low or was the electorates disenfranchised?

This may be elucidated that the low turnout was not because the FCT constituents did not come out to vote, but may very well be a well coordinated and arranged plan that had a preconceived ripple effect around the territory.
In spite of all these challenges the resilient people of the FCT ensured that they exercise their constitutional right by casting their votes; defying long lines, logistical and accreditation issues. Election process in most parts of the FCT were still ongoing till the early hours of Sunday morning and some elections that same Saturday were totally cancelled in some areas by evening due to irregularities.
During this upheaval, it came as a suprise when by 6pm on Election Day, while voting was still ongoing in a lot of wards and almost area councils some certain candidates had already starting declaring themselves as winners of the election in the FCT. The real propaganda machinery kicked in and unrealistic and unverified results flooded social media. The mob kicked in and began to challenge a process that was barely completed and as we look back, this seems to be the all orchestrated to play out this way
As collation continued there were so many discrepancies that it was impossible for even forensic experts to tell how INEC had arrived at such. The candidate of the Labour party released a video where she played down this discrepancies, she claimed it was just an error that everyone could see. The returning officers for BWARI and ABAJI area councils had raised the issues and refused to accept the results. The Returning officer for the FCT professor Sani Saka had also rejected the results which were presented at the FCT coalition center. But Labour party immediately began to blackmail and attacks the professor who was only carrying out his duties In accordance with the laid out procedures and guidelines of The Electoral Act.

Without addressing the issues and following the guidelines and processes of the electoral act; the returning officer, On Tuesday the 28th of February announced the Labour party candidate as the winner of the elections. At the point of the announcement only 1216 out of 2822 results had been uploaded on the IREV portal. This means or show results in less than 50% of the FCT were available, of which discrepancies in the results uploaded were glaring. From mutilated result sheets to pictures of individuals uploaded as results. We saw results that seemed like they were from elections in 2003 reappear at the collation center

It is unfortunate that the process of the general elections in the FCT which should not be credible enough to elect the senior prefect of a secondary school or the chairman of a motor parks association, has been used to elect the highest federal representative available to them.
Another baffling outcome of this bastardized elections, is that the supposed winners have continued to call press conferences and attack the process that made them emerge victorious. They have continually accused the electoral umpire of trying to change a result that has already been declared.

It is unfortunate that in 2023 we could witness such an electoral jamboree, even after INEC claims to have been very well prepared with their technology. We hope that INEC will do better in subsequent elections in other jurisdictions. The Nigerian populace and the people of FCT want a free and fair electoral process and not an expensive live Harry Houdini show.

How much dem paid you to come digrace yourself with this write up. Shame no dey catch you.

Go baff, stinking pig 🐖. LP won FCT fair and square.