April 19, 2007
In what seems as the most bizarre and brazen form of election rigging, the results of the presidential elections holding tomorrow have been made by INEC officials led by Professor Maurice Iwu.
Saharareporters received concrete information earlier today that the elections results which was decided by President Obasanjo, Maurice Iwu and PDP leaders at a "special meeting" which coincided with those of the opposition in Abuja had agreed on the percentage votes to be allocated to Gov. Umaru Yar'adua, the presidential candidate of the PDP.
The meeting, which had to refine its strategies, had earlier awarded 70% or more of the total vote cast to Yar'adua but the outcome of last weeks election and threats by major opposition parties to boycott the elections led the group, said to be thirty in number to "reduce" the percentage to between "57 - 61%"
In a "final agreement" communicated to members today, certain states of the federation led by Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Ogun states, will provide the highest amount of votes for Yar'adua, while some other PDP states will provide "not too high" numbers.
The meeting also agreed to put up close to 20 million voters as the the number of participants in the elections, so as to give a semblance of mass participation in the elections.
The high level and secretive meeting also agreed to make "General Buhari look good by awarding him second best" while Atiku will come in a distant 3rd position as other presidential candidates share the rest of the votes.
Saharareporters could not confirm how many percentages of votes were allocated to Buhari in the results already made up for INEC to announce as early as Monday.
The meeting also agreed that some "work needs to be done to reduce open rigging", which might mean that ballot stuffing in the open will be reduced since a high percentages of PDP states where rigging is expected to take place has already done so before the Election Day proper.
A fresh incentive of N500 million was provided by the Rivers State government to support the initiative.
INEC commissioners in Lagos was recommended for removal and replacement by the meeting which lasted till early hours of Wednesday and a source said a smaller committee continues to "fine-tune" the outcome of the meeting depending on changing dynamics.
The meeting anticipates troubles in Kano, Edo, Delta, Ondo and intends to deploy military to quell riots.
Saharareporters received concrete information earlier today that the elections results which was decided by President Obasanjo, Maurice Iwu and PDP leaders at a "special meeting" which coincided with those of the opposition in Abuja had agreed on the percentage votes to be allocated to Gov. Umaru Yar'adua, the presidential candidate of the PDP.
The meeting, which had to refine its strategies, had earlier awarded 70% or more of the total vote cast to Yar'adua but the outcome of last weeks election and threats by major opposition parties to boycott the elections led the group, said to be thirty in number to "reduce" the percentage to between "57 - 61%"
In a "final agreement" communicated to members today, certain states of the federation led by Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Ogun states, will provide the highest amount of votes for Yar'adua, while some other PDP states will provide "not too high" numbers.
The meeting also agreed to put up close to 20 million voters as the the number of participants in the elections, so as to give a semblance of mass participation in the elections.
The high level and secretive meeting also agreed to make "General Buhari look good by awarding him second best" while Atiku will come in a distant 3rd position as other presidential candidates share the rest of the votes.
Saharareporters could not confirm how many percentages of votes were allocated to Buhari in the results already made up for INEC to announce as early as Monday.
The meeting also agreed that some "work needs to be done to reduce open rigging", which might mean that ballot stuffing in the open will be reduced since a high percentages of PDP states where rigging is expected to take place has already done so before the Election Day proper.
A fresh incentive of N500 million was provided by the Rivers State government to support the initiative.
INEC commissioners in Lagos was recommended for removal and replacement by the meeting which lasted till early hours of Wednesday and a source said a smaller committee continues to "fine-tune" the outcome of the meeting depending on changing dynamics.
The meeting anticipates troubles in Kano, Edo, Delta, Ondo and intends to deploy military to quell riots.
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