The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, says the non-transmission of results electronically by INEC as enshrined in the electoral act, is totally not acceptable as it has dented the credibility of the results as announced in different parts of the country during the Saturday presidential election.
The TUC in a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo and General Secretary,Nuhu Toro, says the Nigerian populace had hailed the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as the game changer!
TUC says despite all the sacrifice made by ordinary Nigerians to go out and wait in long queues to obtain their PVCs, strenuously cast their votes and the billions of taxpayers’ money budgeted for the conduct of the election, INEC failed in meeting the people’s expectations
The Labour Centre says the failure on the part of INEC to upload results from polling units to IReV portal, climaxed an election that was challenged by late arrival of INEC personnel and materials in some areas, by-pass of BIVAS in some cases, suppression of results and outright voters’ intimidation and coercion in many instances.
The statement says the Congress believes in democratic electoral process which has been proven to be far better than autocracy, dictatorship, totalitarianism, and all other extreme forms of governance in societies.
It hereby calls on the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to immediately direct all original polling unit results to be uploaded through the BVAS to IReV Portal.
TUC also tasks the chairman to thoroughly investigate all other concerns raised by political parties and be more vigilant, listen and dispense with all complaints arising from the collation of election results from such identified centers, make amends where necessary as this is the only way to reinstate the credibility of the process, remove the perception of collusion and manipulation; and satisfy the yearnings of millions of Nigerians.
TUC used the statement to commend the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi for choosing Nation over self in his press statement released on Wednesday, where he urged his supporters to remain calm and be peaceful despite the numerous irregularities observed in the process and that the party will follow due process and use constitutional means in addressing the grievances.
The TUC insists the working people and progressive Nigerians fought for this democracy, and they are determined and shall together defend it to the end.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
