The recently concluded presidential election in Nigeria has been a subject of numerous discussions, allegations, and speculations. One of such is the accusation of electoral fraud being leveled against the ruling party. However, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has maintained that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, won the election with a significant margin.
According to Keyamo, Tinubu defeated the Labour Party’s Peter Obi with a margin of 2,693,193 votes. Despite several reports by international observers, including the European Union, of irregularities in the election, Keyamo is adamant that the results were not affected.
The Minister, in a tweet on Tuesday, also addressed the issue of electoral malpractice, stating that an allegation of such in just one State cannot upturn the entire result of the election if it did not affect the declared result. He added that the evidence allowed in court to prove over-voting may differ greatly from what was put together to make “fanciful documentaries.”
Keyamo further explained that alleged malpractice in one State cannot affect the overall result of the election, even if it was backed by various documentaries. He reiterated that to upturn the election result, whatever evidence provided must obliterate the margin between both candidates.
The minister’s comments come amidst widespread claims by opposition parties, civil groups, and international observers of irregularities and fraud during the electoral process. Nevertheless, the ruling party remains adamant that the election was fair and transparent.
As Nigeria prepares for the inauguration of its President-elect, Nigerians are hoping that their new administration, under Tinubu’s leadership, will address pressing issues, including insecurity, corruption, and economic challenges.
