….. As Pat Utomi, others held hostage By Thugs At Lagos Collation Centres
The Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation/Special Duties of Labour Party and Head of Grassroots Mobilisation of the Obi-Datti 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, has tasked Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevail on states to upload results for Collation.
He alleged that Lagos and its environs lay claims to unfounded excuses from compromised INEC officials that BVAS have suddenly stopped functioning for transmission and collation of results.
Okunniyi stated this in a statement he signed and made available in Abuja on Sunday.
He also frown at the on-going disruptions of the collation of elections results and violence in Lagos as reports from their men and women on the field indicate violence and assault of Labour Party Agents and Representatives, among who are renowned political economist and Convener of the Big Tent, Prof Pat Utomi at collation centres in Lagos with sporadic and heavy shooting to prevent collation of results of polling units, where the ruling APC lost in the elections.
“We, therefore, call on Nigerian Security Forces to urgently move to neutralise this ongoing thuggery and violence in most parts of Lagos, including Eti Osa, Ejigbo, Ishaga and Oshodi areas, among others, where thugs are currently having a field day assaulting and holding electoral officials and Labour Party representatives hostage.
“Intelligence report at our disposal also reveals the plot of some INEC officials and political Chieftains to trade off the votes of the Labour Party and Peter Obi in one of the South South States. INEC officials concerned in this conspiratorial merchandising are hereby warned to immediately disengage from this fraudulent act in other not to incur the wrath of angry Nigerians.
“Finally, we wish to plead with INEC strongly to ensure that all uploaded results for collation tally with the results signed and handed over to the polling units Agents of political parties at the polling units inorder to avoid discrediting and scuttling of the 2023 elections,” he said.