Many Nigerians have called for the prosecution of Ibrahim Mantu, former Deputy Senate President, who confessed on live television to helping to rig elections for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mantu was one of the most powerful men in the Senate during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, and was one of the legislators who supported and vigorously campaigned for his third term agenda.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Fard Copy, Mantu had said he provided money and other resources to ensure that he and other PDP candidates won elections.
“I’m now confessing the truth,” he said. “I don’t have to go and change the election (results), but you know when you provide money, you give money to INEC boys to help, if they see any chance that they should try and favour you, you provide money to the security.
“All our elections in the past. I’ve been in this game for about 20 years, and I tell you, it is not necessarily when I am contesting elections, but when my party sponsors a candidate, I will like that candidate to win election.
“And what we used to do before, we made provision for INEC, we made provision for security, we made provision for even agents of other parties so that they will not raise any objections to whatever we are able to get.
“So whether I rig myself or not, by providing those resources, financial inducements to the officials, I am rigging elections.”
I rigged elections for @OfficialPDPNig – The historic day @NGRSenate lawmaker Ibrahim Mantu came to the altar of Deacon @MaupeO of @channelstv for confession. pic.twitter.com/yyktwZCxgV
— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) April 1, 2018
Mantu said he came out to confess because he was tired of being seen as a criminal across the world just because he is a Nigerian, adding that Nigerian needs genuine and honest leaders in order to make significant progress.
However, many who reacted to the development on Twitter did not buy into his ‘born again’ gospel, rather they said he should be picked up by law enforcement agencies and made to face the law for electoral crimes.
We shd give him a fair trial & #LockMantuUp. Period! pic.twitter.com/mhZi69Rc8a
— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) March 31, 2018
LMAO. Calling for public outcry over Ibrahim Mantu’s confessions about rigging elections, when you should be calling for public anger on security agencies who have failed to do their job.
Why has he not been picked up for electoral fraud? Is he a retired Army General too?
— Dr. Dipo Awojide (@OgbeniDipo) March 31, 2018
Can someone please tell me why Sen. Ibrahim Mantu has not been arrested.
— Patrick Okoh (@PatrickOkoh11) March 31, 2018
???????? politicians know the system, they know nothing will happen. Ibrahim Mantu The Deputy Senate President for 8yrs admits on national tv he’s rigged elections. He said it with his chest in PLAIN ENGLISH
I cant even admit to my wife abt sum1 I dated b4 we met without panicking.— Wale Gates ???????????????? (@walegates) March 31, 2018
Is he going to refund all the money he got from the Senate? Or Shouldn’t he go to jail? Is he still rigging elections? Who are the people he’s helped rig elections who are still in power?
Without restitution, he’s still a criminal. https://t.co/pcNyloBMMG— Wale Gates ???????????????? (@walegates) March 31, 2018
It’s shameful that Ibrahim Mantu spent the Easter peacefully at home despite admitting to have rigged elections, @PoliceNG should have arrested him for questioning, this a very serious offence that should not be swept under carpet. We should hold @inecnigeria to account
— YINKAWUMI (@YINKAWUMI) April 1, 2018
I hope @inecnigeria won’t wait any longer before bringing that large mouthed Ibrahim Mantu to justice, for admitting that He assisted @PdpNigeria in rigging previous elections?
— Hon. Mudasir Ayanfe (@Honayanfe) March 31, 2018
A crime is a crime with no expiry date.
Ibrahim Mantu should do his time in prison.
Over @PoliceNG. https://t.co/WuOwmeXy7I
— The Jonathanian (@The_Jonathanian) March 31, 2018
Ibrahim Mantu admitted on National TV that he facilitated election rigging. Just because actions don’t have consequences and there’s no justice in the country.
— mmuö (@Sniftex43) March 31, 2018
Hello IG of @PoliceNG
Sen Ibrahim Mantu just confessed to a crime. He has bribed @inecnigeria officials to rig elections for @OfficialPDPNig in the past.
Don’t wait for @MBuhari . Get him now. https://t.co/eSB695NKta
— Tunde Eneji (@iameneji) March 30, 2018