Peoples’S Movement for a New Nigeria (PMNN) has faulted remarks made by leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on the just-concluded presidential election.
The group said the statement credited to the NSCIA, led by Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, which described the poll as credible, was shocking and unfortunate.
NSCIA had congratulated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, “on his resounding victory during the presidential election.”
It also lauded leadership and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for professionalism.
NSCIA noted that innovations introduced by the commission, especially use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), had not only improved the electoral process, but also added credibility to the outcome.
But addressing a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, PMNN president, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, faulted the assertions, stating: “It beats my imagination on how an extremely and fiercely disputed victory of Bola Tinubu can be described by NSCIA as resounding.”
He said the failure of the INEC to play by its own rule of transmitting election results electronically paved way for alleged rigging.
His words: “Over 93.5 million Nigerians were registered to vote but only 23 per cent of the total figure were able to vote. Tinubu was reported to have won 12 states (excluding Lagos and Abuja), Alhaji Atiku Abubakari won 12 states and Peter Obi won 12 states (including Lagos and Abuja).
“It, therefore, beats my imagination how the extremely and fiercely disputed victory of Tinubu can be described by NSCIA as resounding.
“It must be remembered that Tinubu, a Muslim, was presidential candidate of the ruling APC that appointed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC
Chairman and another Muslim, under the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, another Muslim, like me.
“Islam mandates us Muslims to be equally fair to both Muslims and non-Muslims at all times, and in all circumstances.”
