Awolowo Accuses the NPN, FEDECO & the Judiciary of "fouling the electoral process" | December 1979

Thursday, December 13th 1979.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), states at the party's convention at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, that the presidential election which he lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, was rigged.

Awolowo claimed that the NPN achieved the feat with the connivance of FEDECO, Nigeria's Federal Electoral Commission and the judiciary.

He spoke before an audience of 2000 delegates from all nineteen states of the federation. The Unity Party was one of five political groups which entered the election contest

Transcript of Chief Awolowo's remarks:

"It is clear that the NPN has acceded to power by fouling the electoral process. We have seen that, in fouling the process, the NPN was not alone - indeed by itself alone there was very little the NPN could do which would have made any noticeable impact. But the FEDECO and practically all the Organs of Government were involved in the foul game. It stands to reason that, having fouled the game once to advantage and with impunity, the NPN would want to try it again to perpetuate itself in office as its National Chairman has recently given the whole world to understand. In this respect, it would be remembered that some of those who played a prominent role in the blatant, colossal and widespread rigging of elections in 1965 are today among those who are equally prominent in the leadership of the NPN, and in the rigging of the last elections. WE are all witnesses to the dire and tragic consequences of the fraudulent acts of 1965 including the long, painful and distressing abeyance of democracy and the rule of law."

Source: Reuters News.

Видео Awolowo Accuses the NPN, FEDECO & the Judiciary of "fouling the electoral process" | December 1979 канала Adeyinka Makinde