The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 23 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has described the process as a grand theft of the peoples’ will.
Speaking at a World Press Conference on Wednesday, he insisted that what transpired on February 23 was contrary to the principle of democracy as a government of the people by the people.
“Democracy is a government of the people by the people, only when the people’s choice prevails. That did not happen on Saturday, February 23, 2019,” he said.
Atiku, who came second in the election according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday, pointed out various discrepancies in the result that suggest that it was manipulated.
While thanking his numerous supporters across the country and beyond, he urged them to remain calm as he had the true figures and facts from the election.
Read the full text below.
Let me start by thanking you for choosing democracy as the settled system of government for our great nation.
Democracy is a government of the people by the people, only when the people’s choice prevails. That did not happen on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
On Election Day, we saw the implementation of grand theft of the people’s will. I am not one for hyperbole so I will just let the facts speak for themselves.
In Akwa-Ibom for instance, the results showed a statistical impossibility of a 62% drop in voter numbers from the 2015 elections even where voter registration and PVC collection rates were much higher than in 2015.
This pattern was repeated in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party, including in Delta, Rivers, Abia and Benue states.
As this was occurring, we saw another statistical impossibility wherein voter turnout and numbers increased astronomically in Borno State by an almost miraculous 82% in the midst of increased insecurity.
This pattern was also repeated in other strongholds of the All Progressive Congress.
One begins to ask if insecurity is conducive to higher voter turnouts and security is antithetical to high voter turnout.
It is further curious that the Peoples Democratic Party’s margin of victory in states outside the Southeast and South-south were extremely slim across board. That again is a statistical impossibility.
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The fact is that when you calmly look at the numbers declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as results of the February 23, 2019 elections, they do not add up.
Let me say that I am not speaking as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. I am speaking as a Nigerian when I say that the electoral fraud perpetrated by the Buhari administration this past Saturday cannot produce a government of the people for the simple reason that it does not reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
It is for this reason that I, Atiku Abubakar, reject the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission declaring Muhammadu Buhari as duly returned by the majority of lawful votes.
I am conferring with not just my party, but also with the Nigerian people, on next steps, which will be revealed to the public shortly.
For my fellow Nigerians who feel angry, disillusioned, and let down by the process, I appeal to you to remain calm and steadfast. Rome was not built in a day. We have the real figures, we have the facts that were spoken so loudly on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
This is a long journey, but I am confident of victory. All hope is not lost. Stay strong, by the grace of God we shall triumph.
And to investors and friends of Nigeria now pulling out of Nigeria, I urge you to be patient and keep faith with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is not with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is with those who stole their mandate. Please do not punish the people by divesting from Nigeria.
Thank you all and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
