By Amos Aar
ALL Nations Evangelism Ministries has called on the Nigerian judiciary to look into the complaints made by aggrieved presidential candidates who lost out in the 2023 general elections.
Briefing Journalists Friday at Faith Cathedral, Makurdi at the end of the first quarter synod of All Nations Evangelism Ministries convened on the third day of the international communion of world missions conference for the year 2023, Chairman of the Synod, Most Rev. Dr Yimam Orkwar, who read a communique on behalf of the synod urged the judiciary to discharge its duties without fear or favour in the best interest of the nation.
Bishop Orkwar who is also the president of Christian Association of Clergies (CAC) pointed out that the presidential election recently conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sparked off series of controversies across the country and there are contending issues that must be addressed.
Asked what the contending issues were precisely, the Bishop said “the issues we are talking about are issues that cut across the country when people felt disenfranchised.
“Not only the presidential election but also the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections. INEC promised us a transparent process that would be peaceful, fair and credible. But what we saw in the presidential election was far from what is credible election”.
Among other critical issues, Rev. Dr Orkwar also pointed out that INEC did not use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) to collate results from polling units which created room for manipulation of results contrary to the assurances the Electoral umpire gave Nigerians before the conduct of the elections.
He however stated that Synod called on all Nigerians particularly those who contested elections and their teeming supporters to exercise patience while they await the decisions of the Election Petition Tribunals and to resist all forms of violent behavior and utterances that are capable of causing instability and disaffection.
According to the former Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benue State, Synod further advised winners of the 2023 elections to accommodate all interests and avoid the temptation of winner takes all.
“Synod is grateful to God for the 2023 general elections and encourages the winners of the election at all levels to accommodate all interests; to resist the “winner takes all approach” and pursue good governance and development”, Orkwar said.
He added, “while Synod concedes the necessity of a national head count for the nation, the present circumstances such as insecurity and other issues constitute good ground for the Federal Government to heed to the call for suspension of the head count until such issues which would militate against a smooth conduct of the exercise are properly addressed
“Synod observes with great concern the issues of insecurity across the nation; the wanton killings and destruction of lives and property in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue State and other parts of the nation in recent times and calls on the Federal Government and security agencies to continue to uphold the issue of protection of life and property and not treat it with levity because of the transition process”.
