Election result: No cancellation – Muslim scholars tell INEC

Muslim scholars under the auspices of Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria have advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to listen to those calling for the cancellation of the presidential election result.

The group made this disclosure during a press conference in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Track News reports that the presidential election was held across the country on Saturday. Some Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, have been calling for the cancellation of the result of the presidential election.

Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria, however, enjoined INEC to ignore such calls.

The group said that it was disturbed by a recent statement credited to Obasanjo and some politicians calling for cancellations of the results of the presidential and National Assembly elections that INEC has announced.

The leaders of the group, among whom are Sheikh Abdurrasheed Mayaleeke (President General), Prof Olaiya Abideen Olaitan (Secretary General) and Mallam AbdulGaniy Olaide Sahid Ezra (Public Relations Officer) advised INEC to announce the winner of the presidential election once the constitutional requirements are satisfied.

The group noted: “The peaceful conduct of citizens during the election was unprecedented in the history of [our] recent political process.

“We are, however, disturbed at a statement credited to the former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and some political actors calling for cancellations of the election that INEC has announced winners to the House of Representative [and] the Senate and is getting set to announce the winner of the presidency.

“It is rather unfortunate that such a statement is coming from a supposed statesman and participant in the just concluded election. Could it be because his candidate appears losing at the polls or what?”

The group said further: “We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the irresponsible and diabolic calls irrespective of the quarters it is coming from. We appeal to the INEC to conclude this process of collation of results and announce the winner of the presidential election once the constitutional requirements are satisfied.

“We equally appeal to the President to arrest and prosecute anyone fanning the embers of destabilisation of the country as a matter of duty as the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of united and peaceful Nigeria.”