Ex-Ambassadors call for cancellation of Benue re- run




 
Forum of Former Nigerian Ambassadors and Envoys in Benue has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to follow the example it set in Bauchi by setting up a committee to investigate the inconclusive return of the Benue gubernatorial poll.

The Ambassadors also appealed to President Buhari to prevail on the INEC to declare Governor Samuel Ortom as winner of the 9th March 2019 elections and cancel the planned supplementary elections scheduled to hold on 23rd March, 2019, saying the Benue gubernatorial election was won and lost.

The former Ambassadors and Envoys led by Professor Iyorwuese Hagher who addressed a press conference Tuesday at the NUJ House, Makurdi, described the decision by INEC to declare Benue governorship election inconclusive as a rape on democracy. 

He said as diplomats it was their belief that if the president defends the rights of the Benue citizens to choose their leaders, he will be building bridges for lasting peace.

“We trust that God will help you to build a new Nigeria that is based on love rather than hate, and on inclusivity rather than exclusion. 


“As former envoys we are deeply disturbed by the decision of the INEC declaring Benue governorship election inconclusive and wish to draw your attention to the unfortunate development in which the re-run is capable of plunging the state and the nation into chaos. 

“We pledge our loyalty and support to your decision not to interfere in re-run of the inconclusive elections across the nation. 

“Encourage INEC to exclude votes in places where card readers were rejected, and elections were disrupted and where rather than record zero for all parties, INEC appeared to have tallied the registered vote in these areas amounting to over 60,000 registered voters. 

“If this figure is cancelled from the tally, there will be no need for a rerun,” he added

Leave a Reply