Orubebe Disrupts Collation Of Results In Abuja

Pandemonium was averted yesterday at the national collation centre of the presidential election, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) practically stopped the continuation of the collation process for close to 20 minutes over allegations of partisanship against the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega.

However the calm disposition of Jega inspite of the allegations contributed to containing the situation.
Barely minutes after the INEC chairman settled in to commence collation, apologising for commencing late which was due to logistics issues, former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, and the agent of the PDP, accused the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega of being “very partisan” and compromised.

In an unprecedented display of revolt, Orubebe, accused Jega of refusing to address PDP’s petition for election to be cancelled in seven states whereas the INEC chairman had sent a team of national commissioners to investigate the calls by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the cancellation of presidential election in Rivers State. The former minister also accused the INEC chairman of giving the results of the elections to APC, as was released by APC office. He said the PDP had filed a petition on the conduct of presidential elections in Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, Kogi, Kano and Bauchi states.

Orubebe who threw caution to the wind, described Jega as being “very partisan” and “compromised” adding “we have lost confidence in you because you are partisan.” “You have compromised. Until something is done to our letters the way you did to the APC petition.”

Appeals for him to allow the INEC chairman respond fuelled Orubebe’s ranting, as he shouted at security agencies and other party agents who attempted to calm him down and allow Jega respond. The former minister who had now left his seat and sat in front of the high table, shouted “this thing cannot continue. If he wants to continue I will come back here.” Several attempts to appeal to Orubebe to allow the INEC chairman react further fuel his outbursts, as he said Jega would have to address the matter in his office like he did for the APC.

“You are tribalistic. We will not take it. Until something is done. Jega has to look into our petition otherwise we won’t take it.” “He cannot reply here. We complained to him in his office he did not answer us. He even threw the paper at us,” Orubebe alleged. While security agencies at the premises looked on helpless as the former minister held on to the microphone and refused to allow the INEC chairman speak, other agents and international observers at the venue made comments like “this action by PDP is very shameful”.

However, the intervention of Col. Bello Fadile, another PDP agent at the centre calmed the situation as he urged the INEC chairman to respond to the issues raised. Jega, who remained calm all through the rantings and allegations against him, dismissed Orubebe’s claims and regretted the conduct of the former minister who he described as having the semblance of a statesman having served as a minister. Jega, who said he has not officially received any petition from the PDP, admitted that his personal assistant presented some documents to him from Col. Fadile, at the collation venue but that he instructed his aide to return the document to Col Fadile so that it will be filed through a proper channel.

Jega said while he would not collect petitions at the collation centre, the secretary of INEC was at the INEC office to attend to such petitions. He also rubbished the claims by PDP that he gave election results to the APC. Jega further disclosed that in a subsequent text message exchange with Col. Fadile, he told the PDP agent that “we don’t collect petition on this platform where we are declaring result.” “The secretary of commission is in the office and if it is in our possession, we will attend to it. I can’t be receiving petitions here. As I speak with you I have not received any petition in that regard.” On APC he said “I did not give results to anybody. We have warned everybody to be careful and not to publish results.” Jega, who described the allegation as unfair to him, warned “let us be careful what we say and do”.

I’m sorry, Orubebe Apologises To Nigerians
Meanwhile, Orubebe has apologised to Nigerians over his infamous conduct at the collation and announcement of the presidential election results at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.
Orubebe, who tendered unreserved apology to Nigerians yesterday, said he regretted his action. He also claimed that his action was sequel to the failure of Jega to treat the petition of the PDP over some results in the North.

The former minister, who spoke to LEADERSHIP last night through a telephone interview in Abuja, admitted that Nigerians must have been shocked to watch his action which was televised live by many television stations . He said, “ I apologise generally to Nigerians especially to the younger generation. I want to say if my action hurt them , I deeply regret it. “I am naturally a man of peace and a child of God. I love and hold the interest of this country at heart. Hence, my reaction was provoked by Prof Jega’s behaviour.

“I strongly believe in fairness, equity and justice which I felt we were deprived of. I sincerely apologise and request national pardon. I love peace, I preach peace and hold national unity in high esteem.
“That is why I anchored the ceasefire that is now being enjoyed in the South South region. I earnestly beg to be forgiven, in spite of the embarrassment caused to our dear people. I am indeed sorry , I was only pushed to the wall .”