2nd March 2023
Press Statement
INEC accredited election observer organization commends Nigeria’s peaceful and credible 2023 presidential election outcome, describes it as victory for Democracy
A INEC accredited election observer organization for the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) has congratulated and commended Nigerians for the peaceful and credible conduct of the election whose outcome reflects the will of the people and is a victory for Democracy.
In a press statement issued today 2nd March 2023 and signed by it’s president Wale Ogunade Esq. and director of media and mobilization Nelson Ekujumi, the group said, “We are proud and delighted with the peaceful, credible and successful conduct of the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections in which the outcome reflected the will of the people and is a victory for Democracy”.
The group stated that, “We deployed over 100 accredited election observers, monitored reports of other observer organizations as well as the media for situation reports in the conduct of the elections in 176, 606 polling stations across the 36 states and the federal capital territory, Abuja and can confidently report that the electoral process was duly complied with by the electoral umpire at the polling stations and at the different stages of the collation of results in substantial compliance with provisions of the electoral Act, at variance with the campaign of lies, falsehood, misinformation, blackmail and calumny against the electoral umpire”.
Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) specifically commended INEC for it’s professionalism, objectivity and dogged commitment to the provisions of the electoral Act in the conduct of the elections even in the face of unwarranted and unprovoked attacks, lies, falsehood, misinformation, campaign of blackmail and calumny. According to VAI, “We are indeed proud and commend INEC for the professional and unbiased discharge of it’s responsibility in line with the provisions of the constitution and global best practices.
The group commended the Nigerian electorate for coming out to vote on election day even in the face of excruciating economic and social pains and agony and for remaining calm, peaceful and committed to democracy in the face of provocations by anti democratic elements who plotted unsuccessfully to truncate the announcement and declaration of results with spurious and unsubstantiated claims, fake news, letter and incitements of various kinds.
The security agencies were commended and congratulated for their professionalism and unbiased conduct which contributed in no small measure to the success and credibility of the election.
The local and international observers organizations were equally applauded for their unbiased observations and report of the elections which has helped to deepen our democracy and it is hoped that they will make their final report to the electoral umpire for improvements in observed areas of shortcoming going forward.
The media was not left out of commendations for it’s untiring and patriotic role in the objective and professional coverage and reportage of the election and the outcome in which due process was followed and reflects the will of the people as victory for Democracy.
The political party agents were commended for their civilized conducts which contributed to the peaceful and credible conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) congratulated the winner of the presidential election Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his hard won and national spread electoral victory which is a testament of the peoples confidence and trust in his capacity and capability to take Nigeria to greater heights and urge him to be magnanimous in victory to rally other contestants around his national mandate just as it admonished the losers to be gallant in defeat as true sportsmen by pledging their commitments to a better future with the winner.
However Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) in recognizing that the electoral Act provides mechanism for the resolution of disputes, admonished any of the contestants who may be aggrieved to seek redress in court rather than through claims of incitement in the social media which has no place in law.
Once again, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) congratulate Nigerians for this election outcome which is a victory for Democracy and urge them to ensure that they play their part patriotically and conscientiously as we look forward to the gubernatorial and states houses of assembly elections on 11th March, 2023.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
Wale Ogunade Esq.,
President
E-signed
Nelson Ekujumi,
Director, Media and Mobilization.
