Condemning the flaws and irregularities reported in the Presidential election, JAF called on Nigerian youths, working people and poor masses to stand and fight against ethnic and religious divisiveness being enthroned in the country by politicians.
The Joint Action Front (JAF) has said that reports by media and local and international observers noted that the February 25, 2023 Presidential election was characterised by different flaws, irregularities and acts of violence including voter suppression.
Condemning the flaws and irregularities reported in the Presidential election, JAF called on Nigerian youths, working people and poor masses to stand and fight against ethnic and religious divisiveness being enthroned in the country by politicians.
It added that Nigerians must also mobilise for mass action against anti-poor capitalist policies.
In a statement released by its Secretary, Abiodun Aremu, JAF said that contrary to the guideline released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election, results were not uploaded right at polling units, “something that casts a serious doubt on the integrity of the results declared. Therefore, this suggests that all the winners in the election are products of a flawed process.”
Aremu further stated that “For the presidential contest, JAF holds that there are no fundamental differences in the programmes of the four leading candidates as they all subscribe to the same anti-poor capitalist policies which are responsible for the past 24 years of economic and social woes despite huge human and material resources of the country.
“Nonetheless, we hold that the result of the presidential election and subsequent elections must be a true reflection of the democratic decision of the Nigerian electorates who voted.
“While JAF does not support any of the pro-capitalist candidates, we acknowledge their democratic rights to challenge the outcome of the elections, including with protests. However, we call on the working masses not to have illusions in any of the capitalist gladiators given their common anti-poor neo-liberal programmes.
“Rather, working masses and youth should be prepared to resist any capitalist attack including fuel price hike, naira devaluation, commercialisation of public university education, etc that may be unleashed regardless of whoever is the President from May 29.
“We also condemn the worsening of economic hardship by the autocratic Buhari government with its crazy and inhuman policies of demonetization and urge the NLC and TUC to organize a series of mass action that can force the regime to reverse the decision.
“We condemn the stoking up of ethnic tension ahead of the governorship election on March 18, 2023, especially in Lagos. We call on working people, who share the same exploitation and oppression by the governments at all levels regardless of ethnic or religious background, not to allow themselves to be divided along ethnic lines by different sections of the capitalist elites over their self-serving and class interests.
“We condemn attack on any group or individuals because of their choice in the election and call for a democratic, multi-ethnic and religious defence committee in communities to organize resistance against such a barbaric act.”
“We of the JAF are committed to supporting any effort at building such a party including reclaiming and rebuilding of the current Labour Party as a step towards building a mass movement for system change,”Aremu added.
For a way forward for the Nigerian government and Nigerians, JAF said that it will continue to insist on system change that can guarantee the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria “and which, since inauguration in 2005, we defined as: “Nigeria is rich.”
The group emphasised that Nigerian wealth belongs to the people but “Most Nigerians are hungry, have no jobs, no education, no healthcare, no potable water, no electricity supply and no affordable transportation.
“We want to change that system and replace it with a system where the working people and the millions of people who are suffering under the system of exploitation will win power and ensure that the wealth of Nigeria is used to ensure a good life for the majority of the people who are now exploited and oppressed.
“System change is not replacing one exploiter’s government by another exploiter’s government. It is replacing an exploiter’s government by a people’s government to reorganize Nigeria and put an end to exploitation and oppression."