Why 2023 elections cannot be rigged — Falae, Yakasai

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and founding National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, and a former Liaison Officer to the late President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, have said there would be no rigging in the 2023 general elections. The two elder statesmen said this […]

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and founding National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, and a former Liaison Officer to the late President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, have said there would be no rigging in the 2023 general elections.

The two elder statesmen said this at the formal commissioning of the new National Secretariat of the SDP on Thursday in Abuja. 

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They urged politicians and parties to move to the grassroots and campaign and show the people what they would do to make the country better.

Falae said when they decided to revive the SDP, some people thought it was impossible, but they did it without litigation.

“We have a good presidential candidate in the person of Adewole Adebayo, who did not only show knowledge of law but history, anthropology, architecture and other fields.

“The party may not have a governor today, may not be in Aso Rock, but the SDP is getting there. Nigeria is in crisis as a result of failed leadership.

“Nigeria today is in crisis. You can’t move without being kidnapped. I have been kidnapped for four days on my own farm. I travelled to Lagos on foot as a young man without being kidnapped. But at 77, I was kidnapped,” Falae said.

According to him, controlling government is not controlling a party.

On his part, elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said SDP should move to the grassroots and campaign, saying with the new Electoral Act 2022, no one would be able to rig the election.

Alhaji Yakasai, who was represented by the SDP gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa State, Dr Umar Ardo, said the electoral act made it impossible for anyone to rig the election.