The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) has said it’s disappointed at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over inability of the electoral umpire to transmit election results in real time using the BVAS machine as stipulated by law.
In a press statement signed by OMPAN National President, Emeh James Anya and PRO Ismaila Yahaya K. Anipr obtained by IGBERE TV on Tuesday in Abuja, the group stated that the disappointment became widespread when reported irregularities including thuggery, ballot snatching, result tampering etc. as has been alleged is factored into the entire conduct of the 2023 election.
The group called on the electoral umpire to activate constitutionally provided mechanisms to review the results and make amends where required and equally appealed to the good people of Nigeria to remain calm, maintain the peace while exploring every legitimate means of seeking redress.
The statement reads,
“The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) wishes to register its displeasure over what is now considered by a vast majority of Nigerians as a clear betrayal of trust by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), specifically with respect to the commission’s inability to transmit election results in real time using the BVAS machine as stipulated in the laws.”
“This disappointment becomes widespread when reported irregularities including thuggery, ballot snatching, result tampering etc. as has been alleged is factored into the entire conduct of the 2023 election.”
“As always, our solidarity is with the Nigerian people who defied the elements to vote for leaders that best appeal to their conscience. However, while we call on the electoral umpire to activate constitutionally provided mechanisms to review the results and make amends where required, we call on the good people of Nigeria to remain calm, maintain the peace while exploring every legitimate means of seeking redress.”
“Now, more than ever, political parties and leading politicians must also reign in their emotions and call for calm in the interest of the nation.”
“We believe that no political party or true Nigerian politician will want to preside over a fractured nation. It is for this therefore, that we wish to appeal to parties to tone down the narrative and desist from heating up the polity.”
“Our people must be protected from the incendiary narratives that are threatening to takeover the civil space. This point can never be overemphasized. It is a well celebrated fact that as a people, we are never stronger than when tested. And it is our belief that we will pull through this together as a nation.”
“One promise we make as a body of media practitioners is to work assiduously to unearth every fact that will help in calming fraying nerves while striving to ensure that every vote counts.”
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