PRO-NIGERIA, ANTI-GBAJA GROUP CONSTITUTE NEW GROUP, G-70
TO PURSUE NULLIFICATION OF JUNE 11 HOUSE ELECTIONS, PROSECUTION OF GBAJA, WASE
ALLEGE PROOF OF VOTE-BUYING WITH DOLLARS, SEEK NULLIFICATION OF GBAJA/WASE VICTORY
ACCUSE CNA OF BEING COMPROMISED TO CONDONE IMPUNITY
CONSTITUTE GROUP, G-70, TO CHALLENGE GBAJA/WASE
Alleging proof of vote-buying and the gross condoning of impunity by the Clerk of the National assembly, Alhaji Sani Omolori who supervised the June 11 election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives, a group of lawmakers drawn from minority parties are now heading to court.
According to one of the leaders of the group who spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity, saying its necessary to do so until a formal press conference is convened, the newly-formed G-70 group of House members who are seeking the nullification of the purported victory of Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon Ahmed Wase, have membership drawn across party lines, and are determined to tender relevant evidence towards ensuring that the nullification of the entire exercise.
He made some of their ‘evidence’ available (BELOW), expressing confidence of a victory in court and annulment of the scandalous elections.
Alleging the prevalence of anti-democratic tendencies, impunity and vote-buying in the exercise, the member stated that one of their members had visited television stations in Abuja early in the morning of June 11 to allege that APC was plotting massive vote-buying, emphasizing that the proof of such practices in now available for all to see, adding that additional evidence would be tendered in court.
He stated that having raised the alarm, they have now obtained proof of the allegations, stressing that the G-70 is heading to court immediately to seek legal redress for what he described as an affront against democracy and the law.
“This is the fallout of the manner in which the election of House Speaker and Deputy Speaker was conducted under an atmosphere that was rife with allegations of inducement and these have now been confirmed; for instance, we have evidence that many members were taking pictures of the ‘Members’ Green Card’ with specific serial numbers as given to those being induced to vote for Gbajabamila.
“There is verifiable photographic evidence that can be subjected to forensic analysis which clearly confirm that members were taking pictures of either the ‘Green Members’ Card’ or their respective identity cards alongside their respective ballot papers showing whom they vote for, ostensibly for the purpose of going back to receive the balance of the monies they were promised.
“From our findings, it appears that people were initially given ten thousand dollars each with a balance ranging from forty thousand dollars that was supposed to be given for voting for Gbajabiamila; the evidence is there.
“Some of our members across party lines are heading to court to demand nullification of the exercise and for the courts to declare the election null and void and to seek the prosecution of Gbajabiamila and all those members who were part of the anti-democratic conspiracy.
Members of the G-70 also feel deeply concerned about the involvement of the Clerk of the National Assembly in the whole exercise; because when they complained to him about members going to take pictures, he, in a very unprecedented manner, said it before national television that his own job is just to provide the secrecy of the ballot and that if the members want to compromise their votes, it is their own decision.
“We find it utterly incredible that an umpire in an election of such national and historic significance would allow votes to be compromised without trying to ensure transparency of the process and this made aggrieved members to suspect that he was already compromised with the APC led government beforehand, he stated.
According to the Honourable member, the issue has gone beyond conjecture as concrete evidence of how the entire exercise was compromised can now be tabled before the courts.
“This is further buttressed by the fact that the laws being used for the election clearly spelt out secret ballot; however, right in front of the Clerk of the National Assembly who was superintending the elections, so many members of the House would go and vote, only to return and display their vote at the front row, to prove to Gbajabiamila and his supporters that they voted for him.
“Unfortunately, the CNA condoned what – in the eyes of right-thinking members, constitute a flagrant violation of the laws and therefore, logically justifies being challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction because what eventually transpired made it to be no secret ballot any longer.
“Such monitoring and impunity are anti-democratic and illegal; there is also video evidence and the issues we are raising were conducted under the glare of cameras on live television, with members displaying the ‘Green Card’ openly on the floor of the House and they were seen displaying their votes.
“It was therefore, no longer an allegation but a proven fact and various television stations had it; thus, members of the G-70 have no qualms about the justness of their cause and they are going to commence legal action in the courts immediately,” he stressed.
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