• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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BusinessDay

Agbakoba flays voting pattern in presidential election

Olisa Agbakoba

Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has noted that the voting pattern for the just concluded 2019 presidential election “shows ethnicity played a significant role.” He also advised the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Abubakar, against legal options.

According to Agbakoba, “President Muhammadu Buhari kept his base in the North, while former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar largely held his base in the South. Both All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) benefited from primordial voting. The excepted zone is the South-west where voting occurred on the basis of issues.”

Lamenting the dire implication of the development, the Maritime lawyer said: “The significance and consequence of the 2019 presidential election is huge unless we are able to reverse it. 2023 will follow the pattern of 2019 unless we do something about it.”

Advising the PDP and its candidate against challenging the outcome, he said: “I understand the PDP is aggrieved about the outcome of the election and alleged massive irregularities. But I urge former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar not to approach the Election Petition Tribunal.

“He might have moved backwards by his loss but he should not lose sight of the legacy and greatness that lies in front of him. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is in a strong position to take up the mantle of a statesman. He can build a new Nigeria movement from the motley of small parties, third force actors, change actors and millions who are desperate for a strong, united Nigeria. “There is also a lot of work to be done in both political and electoral reforms. I request former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to step into the shoes.

This is not to say I do not recognise the massive irregularities in the 2019 presidential election. I can see how tempting it is to take the option of the Election Petition Tribunal but that in my view is not the right decision. We look forward to a new Nigeria, strong and united; a new Nigeria that will not vote on the basis of ethnic and primordial sentiments.

“As I said, I was shocked at the strength of the two parties in holding their respective bases. But the problem was that the basis was simply primordial and not driven by issues. Nigerian politics must appeal to issues and not ethnic or primordial consideration. This is the biggest danger in the 2019 presidential election and we as Nigerians must stand up to redress it.”

 

Zebulon Agomuo