Renowned public affairs commentator and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, on Tuesday, mocked President Bola Tinubu, challenging him to summon courage and be man enough to allow the electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement on Thursday, Eze wondered why a man who claimed to be popular, and to have won the 2023 presidential poll, was now afraid to allow the electronic transmission of election results.
“President Bola Tinubu is jittery, unsettled and ready to go against any known international best standards that will warrant the conduct of a free, fair and credible election come 2027, he said.
The public affairs commentator challenged Tinubu that if he feels he was still a democrat, popular and capable of winning election without rigging, then he should support the electronic transmission of election results.
“Forcing fearful Governors and some fading politicians into joining the APC bandwagon of failed leaders and enemies of Nigeria, will not give you free ride to winning a second tenure.
“In fact, to say that Tinubu is jittery and unsettled ahead the 2027 presidential election is an understatement. The truth is that he has seen the handwriting of defeat boldly engraved on the wall, hence, his plot to frustrate the free and fair conduct of the 2027 presidential poll”, Chief Eze maintained.
He reminded Tinubu and the Senate led by Senator Godswill Akpabio that the conduct of 2027 general elections was sacrosanct, and therefore should avoid any moves aimed at election rigging.
“The 2027 poll is all about liberating Nigerians from the shackles of bad governance occasioned by obnoxious and anti people’s policies of
the Tinubu-led APC administration.
“Even with the coercion of almost all the governors into the ruling party, Mr President has continued to lose sleep over the general election and is doing everything humanly possible to win the 2027 presidential election, Eze said.
The APC Chieftain noted that from day one, when Akpabio emerged President of the Senate, that was the day majority of Nigerians sang the senate’s nunc dimittis.
“Imagining Akpabio leading a senate that opposes the electronic transmission of election results in this modern day, Eze queried.
Meanwhile, Eze has commended Nigerians alike following the nationwide rejection and condemnation that trailed the senate’s stance on non transmission of election results electronically.
“Today, I am so happy that Nigerians are now ready to rescue our democracy and our country from those that feel they have occupied and conquered Nigeria, Eze stated.
He hailed the likes of Rt. Hon. Barr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation; erstwhile governor of Anambra state and the Labour Party 2023 presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi and all Nigerians that mobilized themselves to occupy the National Assembly to force the Senate to know that the will of the people must prevail this time around.
“It is not about Tinubu choosing what he wants in terms of the conduct of the 2027 general elections, but what Nigerians want in ensuring a seamless, free and fair election.
“I congratulate Amaechi and his son for joining true Nigerians to promote democracy as well as giving Nigerians hope that the plot to rig the 2027 and sustain the present evil administration come 2027 is already a failed project, the APC Chieftain stated.
Furthermore, Eze urged Nigerian leaders to emulate Amaechi who was on the street to March to the National Assembly to protest the senate’s position on non transmission of election results electronically by INEC.
“By that singular act of protesting on the street with his son, Amaechi has shown that he is ready to identify with the yearnings and aspirations of the downtrodden on the streets”, he said.
In addition, the media mogul warned against a repeat of the contraption called 2023 general election, insisting that Nigerians are ready to defend their votes by making sure that every vote counts.
According to Eze, in an era of technology and global best practices, Nigerians, the Senate and INEC cannot turn blind eyes
“Anybody that is against the adoption of electronic transmission or transfer of election results real time in this modern day Nigeria, is an enemy of democracy.
“We cannot continue to recycle ignorance and mediocrity in the name of using archaic methods in conducting an election when technology can help us get it right, at least for once”, he argued.
Eze commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for faulting the Senate’s after-thought resolution of mixing manual and electronic transmission of election results.
Eze noted that Atiku has always canvassed for an independent INEC, an electoral umpire that is free from government control.
“Like the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar submitted, what Nigerians want is electronic transmission of election results real-time and nothing more, he stated.
Eze quoted Atiku as saying, “At this point, this is not about me contesting elections. It is about Nigerians who want electronic transmission of election results.
“Then, if we have a single-tier electoral transmission system that is real-time electronic, that would be our preference, and I think there is a need for all the opposition political parties to come together to pursue this issue.
“I mean, we shouldn’t allow it to rest where they wanted it to rest today. Absolutely not. I don’t support that”.
