People's Gazette:



28 people died in 2023 election but 800 in 2011: President-elect Tinubu
“The 2011 polls recorded 800 deaths, the 2015 polls recorded 100 deaths, and the 2019 polls recorded 150 deaths. However, the 2023 polls recorded no more than 28 deaths.”

PRESS RELEASE • APRIL 13, 2023

TEXT OF THE PARLEY HELD WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CENTER, WASHINGTON D.C, UNITED STATES ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH, 2023 BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, SENATOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU – MR. FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN (CHIEF SPOKESPERSON AND MINISTER OF STATE, LABOUR); MR. SUNDAY DARE (MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS); MR. AJURI NGELALE (ASST. PRINCIPAL SPOKESPERSON).

PROTOCOLS

INTRODUCTION

(1) It is our pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the National Press Center in Washington D.C for this interactive session on Nigeria’s Presidential Election, 2023. We do not intend to make this a long-winding and boring session, so we shall go straight to the points we intend to make to clear some of the fallacies that have been peddled around the world by the sore losers at the said election.

PREPARATION FOR THE ELECTIONS: A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

(2) The country’s out-going President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed into law a Bill that seeks to improve our electoral process by introducing technology as a means of accrediting voters at the polling units. This is known as the ELECTORAL ACT, 2022. The opposition and international observers hailed him on this.

(3) There was also complete non-interference in the political process by State institutions. There were no reports of deployment of security agents or State apparati in support of the candidate of the ruling party. In fact, in some instances, the opposition celebrated the fact that our candidate had no support of the Government. These led to well-published reports (albeit false) that the President was not in support of the candidate of his own party.

THE STATE OF THE LEADING PARTIES BEFORE THE ELECTIONS

(4) The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled 21 out of the 36 States of the country and the FCT before the elections with elected Governors; whilst the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had 14 Governors and the All Progressives Grand Alliance had one Governor. The Labour Party had no single Governor or elected official at any level of Government.

(5) About eight months to the elections, the main opposition, the PDP, suffered some major set-backs. Its Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2019, Mr. Peter Obi moved to the Labour Party with his supporters, mainly from his region of origin, the South-East. Another of the Party’s main pillar of support in the North-West, Alhaji Musa Kwakwanso moved to the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), taking with him a chunk of the party’s supporters in that region. Five (5) out of the 14 Governors of the PDP, publicly announced they would not be campaigning for or supporting its Presidential Candidate (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar). Meanwhile, the ruling party remained one huge, indivisible entity with no departure of any of its elected officials or public dissent from them. It was in this state of affairs that all the parties went into the elections.

THE ELECTION OF FEBRUARY 25TH, 2023

(6) Contrary to the false outcry by the opposition, the main technological device, Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) did not fail on the election day. All the local and international observers scored the use of BVAS very high, with one local body called YIAGA, working in coalition with the EU and other International Observers, saying it recorded 88% success in all the polling units it monitored. The Nigeria Bar Association also issued its report saying only 8 percent of voters were not satisfied with the process on that day. The portal that the opposition made so much noise about, IREV, is just a viewing portal, which has nothing to do with accreditation or verification of voters or even the counting or recording of votes.

(7) Whilst we hold no brief for the Electoral Commission, it sufficiently explained to Nigerians the next day that the delay in uploading the results to the viewing portal was as a result of a technical glitch. And since the results have since been uploaded eventually, none of the parties have produced their own copies of the result sheets obtained at various polling units that substantially contradicts the results released and announced by the Electoral Commission. Even in their Election Petitions presently before the Court, no such alternative figures have been provided. So, what is all the fuss about?

( It is significant to note that some other elections into the Senate and House of Representatives held on the same day, at the same time and with the same personnel. The opposition candidates have since gleefully gone to collect their Certificates of Return for the various seats they won. Why did they not reject the outcome of those elections too and reject their Certificate of Return? This is hypocrisy taken too far.

THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION

(9) On Wednesday, the 1st of March, 2023, the Electoral Commission announced the results as follows:

§ APC – 8,794,726 (36.61%)

§ PDP – 6,984,520 (29.07%)

§ LP – 6,101,533 (25.40%)

§ NNPP – 1,496,687(6.23%)

Other smaller parties scored some negligible figures.

(10) The winner, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has since collected his Certificate of Return and the Transition Committees are working hard towards a smooth transition.

THE ANALYSES AND CREDIBILITY OF THE RESULTS

(11) Our Constitution requires a Presidential candidate to secure the highest number of votes and score at at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the States of the Federation which includes the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Only Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu met these requirements especially that of the spread (he scored 25 percent and above in 29 States), even though all 3 top candidates won 12 States each. The candidate of the PDP scored 25% and above in just 21 States, falling short of the 24 States required and the candidate of the Labour Party scored 25% and above in 15 States plus the Federal Capital Territory, making it 16 States. There was just no pathway to victory for these candidates who did not have the requisite national acceptability. So, how tenable is the claim of rigging the elections? We see none

(12) It is significant to note that the elections were so credible that it threw up some upsets in our otherwise settled demography. For the first time, 20 sitting Governors lost their States, mostly those of the ruling party. Seven Governors who sought elections into the Senate failed to scale through. This has never happened in the history of Nigeria. In addition, the President-Elect lost his home State (Lagos State); the sitting President lost his home State (Katsina State); the Director-General of the Campaign lost his home State (Plateau State); the ruling Party Chairman lost his home State (Nassarawa State); the Chairman of the ruling Party’s Governor Forum lost his home State (Kebbi State) and the ruling party lost some of its traditional strong holds like Yobe State, Kaduna State and Kano State. All these go to show that it was a keenly contested election and one of the most credible in our history.

(13) The reports of some irregularities and violence in some polling units could not have affected the overall outcome of the elections too. There are 176,974 polling units in Nigeria and infractions and violence were recorded in less than one percent of these units. How could these have affected the overall results of the elections? Whilst we look forward to an era when there would be no single casualty during elections in Nigeria, however, the statistics show that 2023 recorded the lowest casualty rates ever. During the 1964/65 elections about 200 deaths were recorded as a result of election violence; 1993 election recorded 100 deaths; 1999 election recorded 80 deaths; 2003 polls recorded 100 deaths and 2007 polls recorded 300 deaths. The 2011 polls recorded 800 deaths, the 2015 polls recorded 100 deaths and the 2019 polls recorded 150 deaths. However, the 2023 polls recorded no more than 28 deaths as a result of election violence. So, the claim that this is the “worst” election so far is totally unfounded.

(14) In conclusion, our laws have provided for settled means by which election disputes are resolved. The aggrieved parties have taken advantage of this remedy by filing their cases in Court. We urge them to have faith in our judicial system and desist from spreading false tales about our election across the world.

Meanwhile, arrangements for the handover ceremonies are in full gear. The President-Elect will take his Oath of Office as President of Nigeria on May 29th, 2023. You are all invited.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)

For and on behalf of the team

Source; https://gazettengr.com/28-people-died-in-2023-election-but-800-in-2011-president-elect-tinubu/

Funny people...so Nigerians should be dying in every election? Where have we gone wrong in this country?

Lol

Well since you want to bring that up, ask Buhari to come and explain how he inspired his people to shed blood. 800 NYSC members killed for no reason. Till this very moment Buhari hasn't apologised to the families of the dead and tell them that's not what he meant. Buhari has fulfilled his ambition of becoming Head of state again 800 people had to sacrifice their lives for his wishes sadly.

Honestly, I just don't get it while people must die because elections is taking place in Nigeria

Xscape1993:
Funny people...so Nigerians should be dying in every election? Where have we gone wrong in this country?

So who inspired over 800 deaths in 2011. I challenge agbado criminals to give names of the individual and party.

Is it a most people die in all election? I believe that this is a wake up call for the electorate not to die for any politician.

Xscape1993:
Funny people...so Nigerians should be dying in every election? Where have we gone wrong in this country?

If you go through the article, you would have seen this

"Whilst we look forward to an era when there would be no single casualty during elections in Nigeria"

Buhari lost 2011 elections and his muslim supporters burnt over 350 churches.


How many mosques were burnt after Buhari was declared winner in 2015 and 2019?

Whenever a muslim loses the chance to be president, the country will always bleed. RELIGIOUS WAR against Christians.

Tinubu getting 39% in the rigged election shows majority did not want him, 39% does not represent majority of the votes.

LOL... Naija politicians know how to maneuver their way out of accusations
You go fear statistics na 😂😂😂

800 people died in 2011 but in 2015, the person responsible for those deaths was made president with your efforts

In summary he said bad losers r labouring in vain again

None of these died from attacks from Obidients yet the Obidient movement is FG's problem

Wow.... Now, this is funny.

Xscape1993:
Funny people...so Nigerians should be dying in every election? Where have we gone wrong in this country?

Who still kill the 800?

Tinibu whether u kill half or 1million..

Your hands are stained..

And evil that men do live after em..

See them, so 28 people are no longer humans. Two wrongs can never make a right. 28 people are not 28 house flies, they are human beings who have families and deserve to live.

Meanwhile, the perpetrators of the killings in both years are still members of your party. APC has brought so much pains to Nigerians

Mr president go and sit down let the wailers wail till death, why didn’t you people challenge the 2011 election simply because your candidate won you kept shut and most of you took part in the killings of that election you only come up here to act like a typo warrior saint but people more logical than you knows you’re stinking dirty in all aspect,
Only we civilians can stop the killing in an election not government

Buhari did most of the killings in 2011 and you did most of the killings in 2023

so you are only comparing yourself with Buhari

But with highest election thuggery in d world making Inec not to be independent

It's well with Nigeria.
I made up my mind never to comment on the Presidential Elections of Feb 2023,but I need to say some words to my fellow country men, women and adults.
This advice is especially for Obidients.
You are fighting a lost battle if you think you can win the media war against Asiwaju and his litany and colony of media juggernauts.
Asiwaju's crew are the master of propaganda,it started during the June 12 annulment and it has been tried,refined and perfected under this Democratic dispensation.
Young people must stop this infantile idea that Twitter, Tik-Tok and this 30 sec twits and skits are enough to bring down any government, especially a well oiled propaganda machine like that of Asiwaju.
Obidients should know this is not Baba Buhari who doesn't care about his image, Asiwaju's understands the power of a good image,and for every mud thrown at him,I'm sure his crew will return it back 1000 times.
If Obidients are truly concerned about Nigeria,I believe it's time to reconcile and move on with the Development of Nigeria.
I understand there are still many people grieving as far back as 2015 when President Jonathan was removed,to these set of people,I plead that they allow peace to reign and move.
To Obidients,pulling down Asiwaju will not get you anywhere,wait for the Supreme court to declare the final winner and if it's not favorable to you,2027 is another date.
To The Asiwaju camp, please enough of these brickbats,we have won,and it's time to treat everyone with respect,we are all Nigerians, Obidients,Batists not even forgetting the Atikulators.
Nigeria really must move ahead in my lifetime.
God bless Nigeria

All deaths are attriutable to the present day APC .

It was Buhari's supporters that did the 2011 massacre and he became president eventually.
In 2019, People were attacked in Lagos and Rivers, Amaechi and Tinubu were trying to deliver votes to their party, APC against the people's resistance.

In 2023, people died from APC trying to garner votes .
Why is APC forcing themselves on Nigerians ?

It is well next election there won't be any loss in Jesus mighty name

What a senseless thing to say. And this is coming from the President-elect? Should there be any deaths at all during an election? Idk why you people keep voting for senseless people. But wetin concern me? Mtchew

Must we always record loss of life in an election abi what's wrong with Blacks and warp reasoning sef.

Na human life people dey use play mathematics like this.

Omo this next years go be

So, someone must die during election? U counted the lives of the 28 just like another number. What if Seyi Tinubu was amongst them?
We have psychopathic leaders in this part of the world. What are mine even saying, u were never voted a leader in this country by the people, u have always been a product of massive rigging.

Acidosis:


So who inspired over 800 deaths in 2011. I challenge agbado criminals to give names of the individual and party.

It is not funny. 800 deaths is huge!

That was the election that produced GEJ of PDP and perhaps explained why his govt was full of bad luck of locust years.

PMB really tried and I am optimistic that in future elections no Nigerian dies so that folks like you will not be glossing and mocking the dead.

Xscape1993:
Funny people...so Nigerians should be dying in every election? Where have we gone wrong in this country?

I guess u haven’t heard about d word improvement before?

So if u use to make a loss of 800 n it reduces to 28, is it bad?

With time u should know it will reduce totally