Reverend Angela Johnson, Presidential Candidate Alliance For a United Nigeria (AUN) in the 2019 general election gives a damning verdict in this post election review and concludes that she remains convinced and committed to God’s instruction that she would be Nigeria’s President sooner than expected.
She spoke with OpenLife Senior Staff Writer, Isaac Ngumah
What is your assessment of the 2019 general elections?
The general elections 2019 lacked credibility and fairness. It was marred with vote buying, rigging, political thugs and killings, threats of violence to the electorate and voting irregularities.
I believe the INEC was massively influenced and intimidated by politicians.
How will you rate INEC’s roles during the election?
INEC, as an independent body tried but failed beyond my expectations and that of many citizens. There were no adequate security in places as promised, their inability to provide proper logistics after INEC cancelled 16th February election to 23rd amounts to gross abuse of office and raises concern whether INEC is competent to handle such tasks. INEC’s failure to rectify the irregularities of figures on result sheets during the live tv collation of votes and announcements, is unacceptable. The nation watched in dismay, how votes were shared between political parties with millions votes accredited to APC/PDP.
INEC actions left the electorate and other political parties hopeless and helpless, frustrated and angered. The INEC as an independent body should be credible, neutral and nonpartisan.
INEC was intimidated by some politicians who want to cling to power regardless of the electorate choice.
How do you access President Buhari’s re-election?
INEC appointed President Buhari, he was not the choice of the masses. You do not expect the President who did not perform or fulfil his mandates in his first term to be re-elected by the suffering masses. The election was marred with violence, rigging and was not free and fair.
Unless the LORD God intervenes, starvation and hunger will ravage struggling families, unemployment and nonpayment of workers will plunge the nation into unimaginable hardship. Citizens do not have confidence on a President who does not have regards to their sufferings and no regards to humanity.
Do you think Buhari’s “Next Level” will address all this fears?
Buhari has not tackled security problems and corruption, which put him to power. The nation is thrown into fear of retribution. The first mandate that brought him to power, was a complete failure, I wonder what Buhari Next Level Agenda will be? People are hungry, our graduates are jobless, hustling for menial jobs and insecurity are looming everywhere.
There is not much to expect from him as he is busy frustrating, intimidating those that opposed his lopsided leadership, instead of finding solutions to Nigeria problems.
He should understand that, he who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. He has not shown fairness to all Nigeria citizens.
Since he did not lay a foundation in his first four years in office, he will have nothing to build on. Therefore, his 2nd term will be unproductive to the economy, nepotism and insecurity worse than his first term.
Do you subscribe to electoral reforms?
Electoral reforms are necessary as some of the clauses in our electoral constitutions are outdated. The electoral reforms submitted by the legislators will help to regulate the legal framework and it is set to define in clear terms a proper legal framework that will not only ensure the Judiciary interprets the law accurately as they follow the guidelines to resolving disputes, it will restore public confidence in our law.
The recent discussions on whether or not INEC imputed votes electronically to INEC server, raises alarm and is generating heated arguments through the media. The president’s refusal to assent the bill passed by the senate, to keep the voters register in an electronic format in INEC central database amongst other provisions, shows clearly his insensitivity to the electoral law.
Militarization at the poll were observed during the election, what is your take?
Our security forces need more training to engage the public without excessive violence and more refresher courses every six months will help shape the morals ofour security forces. Politicians who uses political thugs should be discouraged.
The postponement of the election has been said to be a plot by the ruling party to rig the election, what is your take?
Any allegation without proof cannot stand, issues of rigging are before the electoral Tribunal. However, the logistics INEC gave as reason for the postponement can logically be a cover up, since INEC was unable to rectify the problems within a week as promised and still went ahead to announce a winner. The allegations of riggings were not hidden, the election was rigged, making a mockery of our democracy and denied the citizens rights as their votes were disregarded.
Why did you think you lost the election?
The truth is that I did not lose the election, those that rigged the election lost. I am in Nigeria for a just cause and until LORD God who spoke to me on 7th May 2017 revokes His words to me, my duty is to wait on my post. People may be deceived by those who say that a woman cannot be a President and mock the word of God but the word of God stands sure and irrevocable. People look at the outward appearance but God sees the heart and knows who is ready to take the bull by the horn and emancipate Nigeria. 2019 election was marred with fraud, rigging and corruption, just to gain power, not minding the sufferings of the masses.
The election was a mockery to humanity and a disgrace to Nigeria democracy, I believe in free and fair election. One genuine vote for me, is better than million votes gotten by trick, fraud and manipulations.
Do you still intend to re-contest in 2023?
Since it is the LORD God that called me to contest, my duty is to wait on the LORD God, till I receive instruction. Yes, the promise of God to me becoming Nigerian President is irrevocable and shall be accomplished. You see, it is not of he that wills or he that runs but the Lord God who shows mercy to the afflicted. The election is not just about me but the masses who are being oppressed.
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