The National Coordinator, Obidients Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has said that election results should be transmitted real-time, in order to get credible elections that will produce credible leaders.
Tanko said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday.
“No one of us is doing this because we have a personal interest. No. We just want a credible election that will bring in credible leaders. We, and Mr Peter Obi, we’re saying that we need to change this narrative.”
He added: “Why is it difficult for you to transfer or transmit election results? Not transmitting results real-time shows our deficiency. For example, India, who has more population, with their number of voters, can transmit results real-time, immediately, for billions of people, what happened to us? In fact, if you are real and serious as a nation, it should be a shame on ourselves and the leaders in the National Assembly.”
Speaking on the issue of inadequate resources needed to transmit election results real-time in some areas of the country, Dr. Tanko said:
“We should insist that those areas that are assumed not to have any network, the National Assembly should give a marching order, to show that they are progressive, to make sure that there is power in that area, so that they can easily transfer those results at real-time. This will show that they are interested in giving credible elections.”
He also said that the Obidients Movement is determined not to relent until credible elections take place in Nigeria.
“We have experience in things not being done. But we are determined to take this further. This country must be repaired now. Everything is not okay until when we have credible elections in this country. We are not going to stop, and we are not encouraging anybody to stop, because without credible elections, we cannot have credible leaders and credible governance.”
Speaking further, Dr. Tanko highlighted other reforms that are needed besides e-transmission of election results.
“Well, there’s this particular issue of nomadic politicians who move from Party A to Party B. With laws that can enable people to remain where they are, people will not move. And why they move, in the case of my principal, they move justifiably because of certain reasons. We must ensure that the particular clause that says if there is no problem in one political party or the other, then you cannot move. That is just an idea to manipulate the system and the people. Once you move out of a party, you lose your seat, you are out and open it up for another contest. That is how it’s supposed to be”, he explained.
Dr. Tanko shared the reason behind the Obidients Movement’s protest on Monday despite the National Assembly’s emergency meeting to revisit the electoral draft. He said:
“Everything is wrong with us. Our demand has always been that they should revisit it, sit down, have a combined national assembly sitting from both the Federal House of Reps and Senate, and know they are representing the people.”
Speaking on Mr Peter Obi’s chances of coming out victorious in the 2027 elections under the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Dr. Tanko said:
“My confidence relies on my principal, for the fact that he has shown a level of resilience and determination. He has also made it clear right from the beginning that he will not go into any coalition because of his personal interest; he’s going into the coalition because he wants to see Nigeria work, and it must be tailored around the programme of building a Nigeria of our dreams. Be it as it may, he also realized that during the 2023 general elections, yes, he has made a lead in movement and a voting process that has brought in unbelievable votes that was allocated to him.
“But at the same time, it is time for him to advance further to ensure that he carries everybody along, who are Soubting Thomases before. At this point, there is a building of trust among every Nigerian who wants a genuine change for the country. And that’s the reason he went into the coalition. At the same time, we are believing that Nigerians should be able to see the difference from Peter Obi and other candidates.”
Dr. Tanko also spoke on the strength and weakness of the Obidients Movement.
“Our greatest strength is the collaboration of the Nigerian youths. And we still have it. We are not only on social media, we are much beyond that. Today, if you go to Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, everywhere, the Nigerian youths are resilient now, they’re determined.
“The weakness on our part is our ability to continue to galvanize these youths together and taking away the issue of difference of religion and tribe”, he concluded.
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