APC LEADERS FIRST TO DEMAND JEGA’S SACK AFTER ANAMBRA POLLS. WHAT HAS CHANGED

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Anambra poll: Buhari, Tinubu, others protest at INEC headquarters

November 28, 2013

Written by Yusuf Alli and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari defied police and military barricade to march on the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in protest against the shoddy conduct of the governorship poll in Anambra State.

They demanded outright cancellation of the election by INEC.

They also called for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and dissolution of the management of the electoral body.

Reminiscence of pro-democracy struggle between 1993 and 1998 during the dark days of military era, the leaders trekked for about five kilometers from APC National Secretariat in Blantyre Street in Wuse II part of Abuja to Zambezi Crescent in Maitama District where INEC is located.

The initial stage of the trek was piloted by Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State) and many members of the National Assembly.

The great trek was later coordinated by a former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, Engr. Buba Galadima.

But when the procession took off, Buhari and some top leaders of APC withstood the rigours of standing in an open lorry for the protest march.
Others tucked in the lorry were the National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; a former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu; a former National Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party(APP), Alhaji Yusuf Ali; ex-Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima, ex-Governor Segun Osoba; ex-Governor Niyi Adebayo; Senator Nazif Suleiman; the Deputy National Secretary of APC, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Senator Abu Ibrahim; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Comrade Dino Melaye.

Others who participated in the hectic protest were Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senator (Prof.) Sola Adeyeye; Senator Domingo Obende; Senator Anthony Adeniyi; Senator Ahmed Lawan; Senator Gbenga Asafa; House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajiabiamila and the Chairman of the House Committee on the Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri.

Others were the Deputy Minority Chief Whip in the House, Hon. Garba Datti; Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Kawu; Hon. Umar Bago; Hon. Adeola Solomon; Hon. Yakubu Balogun; Hon. Pally Iriase; Hon. Munir Hakeem; Hon. Abayomi Ayeola; Hon. Taiwo Adelekan; Hon. Adeyinka Ajayi; Hon. Gafar Akintayo; Hon. Sunday Adepoju; Hon. Ajibola Famurewa; the APC National Women Leader, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, APC National Treasurer, and Hajiya Sadiat Umar Farouk,

Waving brooms amidst blare of revolutionary songs, traffic was brought to a standstill for about two hours along the ever busy Ademola Adetokunbo Street in Wuse II.

Many workers in the business district abandoned offices to identify with the protesters.

They wielded leaflets and placards with the following inscriptions: “Anambrarians, Nigerians are with you,” “Anambra Election: Jega, not the INEC Messiah, Resign Now,” “2015, No hope with Jega,” “No Supplementary Election in Anambra,” “Cancel Anambra Governorship Election Now,” “Election Fraud Must Stop Now.”