The extent of the effort to rig the polls for Mr. Jonathan, and the outgoing president’s direct role in the scheme, emerged from interviews and tips offered by electoral officials, security agents, foreign and Nigerian election monitors, and members of the president’s own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).


President Goodluck Jonathan played a direct role in efforts to rig Nigeria’s presidential election that took place March 28, 2015, including placing telephone calls to pressure returning officers to alter vote tallies, an investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed.

The extent of the effort to rig the polls for Mr. Jonathan, and the outgoing president’s direct role in the scheme, emerged from interviews and tips offered by electoral officials, security agents, foreign and Nigerian election monitors, and members of the president’s own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Weeks before the election, as Mr. Jonathan’s internal pollsters warned that his reelection prospects looked dire, the president and his inner circle of associates approved several measures to rig the elections. These included massive deployment of soldiers to several states in Nigeria’s southwest to help intimidate voters sympathetic to the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the redeployment of police and other security officials to ensure that those who favored the incumbent president were assigned to “politically tough” states, and the movement of massive amounts of cash to designated states to entice both voters and opposition party agents to swing their support to Mr. Jonathan.

When all the steps failed to deliver enough votes to the president, Mr. Jonathan and his inner circle went into panic mode once collation of results began. At the end of the first day of election collation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as it dawned on the president’s team that he was headed for defeat, Mr. Jonathan sent retired Colonel Bello Fadile to shop around for any judge who would give an order to stop the collation.

A judge told SaharaReporters that this effort largely failed because the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court had warned other judges to refrain from entertaining such controversial and potentially incendiary election-related cases. The one judge Mr. Fadile thought he could count on pleaded that he had left Abuja for his hometown for Easter holidays.

Once the plan to use the judiciary to scuttle the collation collapsed, Mr. Fadile recruited former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, to play the key role in a plan to physically disrupt the collation of results.

Mr. Orubebe drove into the collation center with two heavily armed men believed to be Niger Delta militants. Once Mr. Orubebe arrived at the International Civil Center (ICC), of the collation venue, the Department of Security Services (DSS) withdrew its security detail clearing the way for Mr. Orubebe’s thugs to foment mayhem. The agency also jammed the Internet service at the center, making it near impossible for reporters at the venue to access the Internet.

Our investigation revealed that what saved the day was the refusal of the Nigerian police at the venue to accept the order to withdraw from the venue. The police commanders at the collation center demanded an official letter from their Inspector General if they were to leave, arguing that their posting to the venue had been done via an official letter. “We said it would be unwise to leave [the collation center] without a counter letter or signal from our headquarters,” one of the police officers told our correspondent.

As Mr. Orubebe began his disruptive action, Usman Abdullahi, an aide to INEC chairman Attahiru Jega, sent text messages to a few notable Nigerians as well as some Western diplomats alerting them to the possibility that the armed men who accompanied Mr. Orubebe would abduct Mr. Jega. SaharaReporters saw a copy of the text message.

Mr. Jega’s calm response to Mr. Orubebe’s antics, as well as the refusal of the Nigerian police personnel to quit the ICC, foiled the plot to abduct the INEC chairman.

Mr. Jega remained on his seat for the better part of the day, refusing to leave the table even as he declared short breaks to await the arrival of election returning officers from various states.

SaharaReporters learned that several of the returning officers were flown into Abuja on a presidential jet. However, the jet made unusual “disappearances” and curiously long delays in bringing in returning officers from the South South and South Eastern states. One of the Presidency sources said the president ordered a delay in flying in the returning officer of Borno State by at least four hours. The president figured that the poll results from the state would widen Mr. Buhari’s lead, giving Nigerians and the global community a clear picture of the APC candidate’s decisive and irreversible domination of the presidential polls.

While the returning officer from Borno State was abandoned at the Air Force base in Maiduguri, the returning officer from Delta State presented figures that temporarily seemed to boost Mr. Jonathan’s electoral fortunes.

Several sources disclosed that these delays were part of President Jonathan’s tactical game. President Jonathan made frantic calls to several returning officers from the South South and South East urging them to bump up his final figures to enable him to win by at least 500,000 votes against his rival, Muhammadu Buhari. At the time of the president’s calls to returning officers, Mr. Buhari was already leading by at least three million votes according to authentic results published by SaharaReporters the day before Mr. Orubebe’s meltdown at the ICC.

A source at the Presidency confirmed to SaharaReporters that President Jonathan personally reached out to at least four returning officers to ask them to inflate presidential election figures by several hundred thousand votes to enable him to win the elections. In one instance, the source said, one of the returning officers told the president that the number of accredited voters was not up to the figures Mr. Jonathan wanted called for him. According to our source, the president remained unfazed. “Just declare the votes, I will take care of the rest,” the official quoted Mr. Jonathan as stating.

Our sources at the Presidency said Mr. Jonathan was counting on the usual tactics of using corrupt judges in the Court of Appeal as well as Supreme Court to uphold the outcome of fraudulent elections.

The sources also revealed that SaharaReporters played a critical role in frustrating the president’s rigging plan by publishing the unofficial results of the presidential polls based on accurate compilation of results called at various state collation centers. “When your website published the results, there was little or no room to maneuver,” one source at Aso Rock said. He added that Mr. Orubebe’s reference to the publication of the election results was actually a reference to SaharaReporters’ accurate representation of the polls tally from across the country.

Our source said that, having been convinced that President Jonathan could pull off a victory by manipulating figures, some of his ministers and party officials began celebrating. For instance, a junior minister for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, tweeted that he wished to be the first to congratulate Mr. Jonathan for emerging victorious. Also PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, spoke on Channels TV, urging the APC to accept defeat and behave peacefully.

In the end, President Jonathan and his team came to terms with the reality that no amount of hanky-panky could secure victory for them. Mr. Jonathan’s much-praised acceptance of defeat was not part of his original design, according to sources close to the president. They said world leaders had inundated Mr. Jonathan with calls demanding that he accept the outcome of the polls. The calls were intensified as soon Mr. Orubebe began his public action aimed at disrupting the election.

Diplomatic sources in Abuja told SaharaReporters that the UK and US put enormous pressure on President Jonathan not to undermine the collation process or scuttle the polls. The barrage of pressure finally worked. Mr. Jonathan gave orders for the pilot of the presidential jet to head for Maiduguri to pick up the Borno State returning officer. Once the official was brought to Abuja, the final collation of results was done and Mr. Buhari emerged the winner.

Na wa oo

very real account of the situation.

no wonder ffk was boasting
nobel peace indeed.

Why always Sahara Reporters

I give it to SR! Always on point! I saw the results they published online and most of them tallied with what was called at the Abuja collation centre except for a few ones that jumped from thousands to million.

Even if sahara reporter are lying i will still believe then there is an element of truth in their stories.

Well done to the true police officer sha

For the first time in my life,I say weldone to the Nigeria police.I believe this story that's why I always laugh when people say Gej is a hero.What fvcking hero?

Hero.

The whole truth to this matter will be known after May 29.

We will know who the real heroes of the 2015 elections are before the end of the year.

Jonathan does not need calling anybody to rig elections for him, all he needed was sack Jega, which he had all the powers to do, appoint an inec national officer to do his bidding and the rest will be history.
Sharia reporters should please keep quiet, i do not believe them.

I believe SR,Because the display of orubebe that day suggested that he was acting an evil script backed by forces in d presidency. If Jega had stood up that day,Nigeria would have been in turmoil now.Finally, i believe God heard the prayers of his people. There is nothing heroic about what pgej did,he lost an election and if he had conceded defeat or not wouldn't have change the result of the poll.

luvinhubby:
Jonathan does not need calling anybody to rig elections for him, all he needed was sack Jega, which he had all the powers to do, appoint an inec national officer to do his bidding and the rest will be history.
Sharia reporters should please keep quiet, i do not believe them.

look at how you just said it, as if sacking jega is as easy as you putting food in your mouth. Gej wanted to sack jega,but for the prompt reporting of this move by no other than Sahara reporters, he refrained from doing so.He was trying to rig the election in such a way that it will b difficult for people to notice it.The international forces against him made sure he conceded defeat.

Jorussia:
look at how you just said it, as if sacking jega is as easy as you putting food in your mouth. Gej wanted to sack jega,but for the prompt reporting of this move by no other than Sahara reporters, he refrained from doing so.He was trying to rig the election in such a way that it will b difficult for people to notice it.The international forces against him made sure he conceded defeat.

If you know our constitution and powers of the president, you will not be saying this.
Jega is a public servant operating under the civil service code to do the work of elections arbiter. The president hired him & can fire him by our laws. He can also ask him to proceed on terminal leave 3 months to his terminal date of June 24th and nothing will happen.
The international community can only do two things, commend or condemn his acts but cannot reverse it.

The man said ' I will give Nigerians a credible electoral process' & he did that in his 5yrs in office.

luvinhubby:

If you know our constitution and powers of the president, you will not be saying this.
Jega is a public servant operating under the civil service code to do the work of elections arbiter. The president hired him & can fire him by our laws. He can also ask him to proceed on terminal leave 3 months to his terminal date of June 24th and nothing will happen.
The international community can only do two things, commend or condemn his acts but cannot reverse it.

The man said ' I will give Nigerians a credible electoral process' & he did that in his 5yrs in office.

Please stop misinforming people with your misxheavousness; or maybe it's ignorance but I doubt it. The head of INEC its not just and ordinary public servant. According to the constitution, INEC boss can only be sacked by a 2/3 majority of the National Assembly.

And no, the President does not have the power to tell Jega to proceed on terminal leave. It's up to Jega to decide if he wants to or not.

lanrefront1:



Please stop misinforming people with your misxheavousness; or maybe it's ignorance but I doubt it. The head of INEC its not just and ordinary public servant. According to the constitution, INEC boss can only be sacked by a 2/3 majority of the National Assembly.

And no, the President does not have the power to tell Jega to proceed on terminal leave. It's up to Jega to decide if he wants to or not.

It is either you choose to be ignorant or you are misinformed.
Is the head of inec a public servant? - yes
Is he governed by the civil service code? - yes
Who hired him ? - Mr. President.
Can he fire him legally? - yes
Was there a precedence ? - yes. Who? - CBN Governor.
How was last inec boss (Iwu) removed?(without 2/3 of senate) - Was asked to proceed on terminal leave by Gej.
Sahara reporters is angry that Gej graced more headlines in defeat than even the winner.
My point is GEJ had every power & opportunity to rig the elections but choose not to because he promised Nigerians credible elections.

luvinhubby:

It is either you choose to be ignorant or you are misinformed.
Is the head of inec a public servant? - yes
Is he governed by the civil service code? - yes
Who hired him ? - Mr. President.
Can he fire him legally? - yes
Was there a precedence ? - yes. Who? - CBN Governor.
How was last inec boss (Iwu) removed - Was asked to proceed on terminal leave by Gej.

My point is GEJ had every power & opportunity to rig the elections but choose not to because he promised Nigerians credible elections.

Oga, the era of impunity is over. End of

There is an adage that says when a dog wants to go astray or get lost he would not listen to his master's again and a leopard can never change is skin, GEJ my hero over my foot, this man should be prosecuted immediately he relinquish power. However, like i said in some of my comments on this platform "We the people created the monster called GEJ when we voted for a candidate in 2011 election as president based on sentiment without carrying out a background check". Another saying states the people deserve the kind of leader they get. Shikena !!!!

modath:
Hero.

Jonathan Their HERO

oyb:


Oga, the era of impunity is over. End of

I pray so

luvinhubby:

It is either you choose to be ignorant or you are misinformed.
Is the head of inec a public servant? - yes
Is he governed by the civil service code? - yes
Who hired him ? - Mr. President.
Can he fire him legally? - yes
Was there a precedence ? - yes. Who? - CBN Governor.
How was last inec boss (Iwu) removed?(without 2/3 of senate) - Was asked to proceed on terminal leave by Gej.
Sahara reporters is angry that Gej graced more headlines in defeat than even the winner.
My point is GEJ had every power & opportunity to rig the elections but choose not to because he promised Nigerians credible elections.

The constitution says the President can only fire the head of INEC if it approved by 2/3 of the National Assembly. That's the only legal way he can do it. Any other way is illegal and a breach of the Nigerian constitution.

And GEJ did use everything he could to rigg the elections. The rigging was only possible in the the SS and SE. They tried all they could, but the lead if Buhari was to wide to cover unless the would exceed the number of accredited voters from those regions.

ionsman:
For the first time in my life,I say weldone to the Nigeria police.I believe this story that's why I always laugh when people say Gej is a hero.What fvcking hero?

For you to know the level of pressure on Jonathan, Former president Abubakar and others are there in Aso Rock with Jonathan when the election result was being reeled out.

They were in Aso Rock so as to prevent his wife and other people like Orubebe and Edwin Clark to advise him wrongly.

lanrefront1:



The constitution says the President can only fire the head of INEC if it approved by 2/3 of the National Assembly. That's the only legal way he can do it. Any other way is illegal and a breach of the Nigerian constitution.

And GEJ did use everything he could to rigg the elections. The rigging was only possible in the the SS and SE. They tried all they could, but the lead if Buhari was to wide to cover unless the would exceed the number of accredited voters from those regions.

Please copy and paste that section for us to see.
And where was that section when Maurice Iwu was sacked?

All the opposition and haters attempt to smear the good name of heroic President Goodluck Jonathan have continued to fall and shall continue to fail.
Nonsence post.

Hahaha,Mr "Nobel prize winner" has been exposed again for d scam he is.
Nigerians should brace up,by d time those in d know start revealing all d horrible things GEJ did,after May 29;many would be angry with GMB for not prosecuting him.
All these scam of him being a statesman is preparing himself for a soft landing when horrid details start being unfolded.
I never believed for one day that GEJ ever meant to concede,as his propaganda agents wants us to believe.The man's hand was twisted by d resolve of Nigerians, severe international pressure and the usual God's intervention in our affairs when we collectively cry out to him in despair.
Statesman nor,national man ni!

lanrefront1:



Please stop misinforming people with your misxheavousness; or maybe it's ignorance but I doubt it. The head of INEC its not just and ordinary public servant. According to the constitution, INEC boss can only be sacked by a 2/3 majority of the National Assembly.

And no, the President does not have the power to tell Jega to proceed on terminal leave. It's up to Jega to decide if he wants to or not.

The same way the constitution and d CBN Act says the President cannot remove the CBN Gov except by 2/3 majority of the NA, right

Anybody that believes this concoctious stringing together of words by SR is welcomed to do so. That is what HATE does to people after all.

proudlyhandsome:


For you to know the level of pressure on Jonathan, Former president Abubakar and others are there in Aso Rock with Jonathan when the election result was being reeled out.

They were in Aso Rock so as to prevent his wife and other people like Orubebe and Edwin Clark to advise him wrongly.

LIE. They were NOT in Aso Rock at that time. That Pic that was circulated was taken days before the collation of the results

taharqa:


The same way the constitution and d CBN Act says the President cannot remove the CBN Gov except by 2/3 majority of the NA, right

Anybody that believes this concoctious stringing together of words by SR is welcomed to do so. But, NONE of you

There was no way Jonathan could have tried the illegality he did with Sanusi with Jega. The matter involved in Jega's case is is a sensitive matter that cannot be toyed. He did make attempt and was advised to do so, so it wasn't as he didn't want too. But if he tried it, the country will boil. And whatever happens in the aftermath, ICC will hold him responsible and be looking for a way to arrest him as long as he lives.

lanrefront1:


There was no way Jonathan could have tried the illegality he did with Sanusi with Jega. The matter involved in Jega's case is is a sensitive matter that cannot be toyed. He did make attempt and was advised to do so, so it wasn't as he didn't want too. But if he tried it, the country will boil. And whatever happens in the aftermath, ICC will hold him responsible and be looking for a way to arrest him as long as he lives.

Plzzz, SHUT it.

I don't have then time to debate with half-witted minions K?? You had previously claimed the President could not have removed Jega if he really wanted to cos of the 2/3 thing. When you were reminded that that was the same thing you chaps said for Sanusi until he was removed, you remember the word 'sensitivity'.

Idiiots!!

luvinhubby:

It is either you choose to be ignorant or you are misinformed.
Is the head of inec a public servant? - yes
Is he governed by the civil service code? - yes
Who hired him ? - Mr. President.
Can he fire him legally? - yes
Was there a precedence ? - yes. Who? - CBN Governor.
How was last inec boss (Iwu) removed?(without 2/3 of senate) - Was asked to proceed on terminal leave by Gej.
Sahara reporters is angry that Gej graced more headlines in defeat than even the winner.
My point is GEJ had every power & opportunity to rig the elections but choose not to because he promised Nigerians credible elections.

. My friend, you a mile from it. Stop displaying your ignorant of our electoral act. INEC's laws and staff are regulated by the National Assembly which Jonathan was fully away of. You think Jonathan did not explore all the option of sacking Jega? The guy must have been adviced by his gangs of lawyer to refrain from commiting disaster. Even Buhari with Military background cannot sack INEC Charman. It's only an act of the National Assembly with 2/3 majority that can remove INEC Chairman. Please be guilded.

Jenkizo:
. My friend, you a mile from it. Stop displaying your ignorant of our electoral act. INEC's laws and staff are regulated by the National Assembly which Jonathan was fully away of. You think Jonathan did not explore all the option of sacking Jega? The guy must have been adviced by his gangs of lawyer to refrain from commiting disaster. Even Buhari with Military background cannot sack INEC Charman. It's only an act of the National Assembly with 2/3 majority that can remove INEC Chairman. Please be guilded.

Please wiseman, kindly educate me on how the national assembly regulates inec & it's staff.
Also enlighten 'ignorant' ones like us on what you meant by act of the national assembly.
*Waiting patiently

The main issue is that anti GEJ media houses like Sahara reporters were appalled by the way GEJ was celebrated locally & globally for his nobility in defeat, which is very strange & absolutely unusual in our political clime. An action that took the shine off Buhari's victory & they are looking for possible means to rubbish it, inluding the 'jega kidnap' story.

I believe in Nigeria & our march to greatness, together we will get there. But let's celebrate persons like GEJ that will do things the unusual way for the greater good of the nation so as to encourage others tow same line.

#nigeriashallbegreatagain.