The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) has charged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to ensure that justice is done and ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) organizes another governorship election in Imo State as the last year’s was flawed.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, in a press conference on Monday, reiterated the party’s prayers to the Supreme Court that the apex court should act decisively and enforce electoral laws.
Ifoh, said, “Given the clear evidence of over-voting, which invalidates the election results according to the law, the Court should order the cancellation of the flawed election and mandate a fresh governorship election in Imo State. This action is essential to restore public trust and uphold the integrity of the judicial system.
“The importance of justice in the governance of Imo State cannot be overstated. Labour Party and its candidate in the November 2023 governorship election in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu have one more chance in the Supreme Court to right the wrongs meted to the Imo electorates who are forced to tolerate a government they never wished for themselves.
“In 2020, Imo State was a victim of a controversial decision that dramatically altered the political landscape of the state.”
Obiora Ifoh said that in spite of clear evidence of over-voting, which should have led to the annulment of the election, the court awarded the governorship to a candidate facing over-voting, insisting that the 2020 and 2023 decisions , are not only contradicting the principles of fairness and transparency, but also a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of the Nigerian electoral process.
“As we approach another Supreme Court judgment, the question of overvoting rears its head again. If it scales through again, it means that overvoting will become an unwritten law of electoral jurisprudence in Imo state.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the Supreme Court corrects this miscarriage of justice. The future of Imo State’s development hinges on the rule of law and the public’s trust in our judicial system.
“What we need is a just and fair resolution in the current case before the court will not only restore confidence in our democracy but also pave the way for genuine progress and development in Imo State. The people deserve a leadership that truly reflects their will, and the time for justice is now.
First, the integrity of the electoral process is the cornerstone of any democracy, and in Nigeria, our electoral laws are designed to ensure that the will of the people is accurately reflected in election outcomes. Unfortunately, in the case of the recent Imo State governorship election, these laws were blatantly disregarded by both the election tribunal and the appeal court, leading to a grave miscarriage of justice.
“The issue at hand is clear: the total number of certified accredited voters for the November 2023 governorship election, as certified by INEC, was just over 500,000. However, the total votes counted, which was used to declare the candidate of APC winner exceeded 700,000, resulting in an over-voting discrepancy of more than 200,000.
“We had raised this issue during the election as we had clear evidence of abuse of electoral practices, including falsification and mutilation of result sheets, harassment of the Labour Party’s agents, snatching of ballot boxes, and open vote buying”.
According to Ifoh, section 53 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, stipulates that any election tainted by overvoting must be annulled, noting that the provision is clear and leaves no room for alternative interpretations.
“The law was crafted to protect the sanctity of the electoral process and ensure that elections are free, fair, and reflective of the voters’ true choice.”
It is regrettable that, despite the evidence of overwhelming over-voting, neither the election tribunal nor the appeal court applied this clear legal standard. Instead, they chose to validate an election result that is fundamentally flawed and legally indefensible. This is not only a violation of the law but also a deep injustice to the people of Imo State who deserve a leader who truly reflects their will.
“The situation is eerily reminiscent of the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in 2020, where a similar issue of over-voting was overlooked, leading to the installation of a candidate who was initially placed third. Such judicial oversights undermine public confidence in the electoral system and threaten the very foundations of our democracy.
“The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to correct this injustice and restore faith in our legal institutions by upholding the law as it is written—clear, unambiguous, and without room for further interpretation.
“In yet another clear instance of a miscarriage of justice, the petitioners in the Imo State governorship case faced significant obstacles in accessing crucial evidence, specifically the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) devices. Despite making formal requests for over 4,000 BVAS units, which were essential to prove their case of electoral malpractice, the petitioners encountered deliberate delays and obstructions. Only 30 BVAS units were eventually provided, and even then, only for partial inspection. Of utmost importance is the fact that the Imo State election took place in only 4,720 out of 4,758 polling units in Imo State.”
Meanwhile, Ifoh also noted that the direct consequences of these violations on democracy could be the inability of the citizens of Imo to submit to the current government which they believe has been imposed.
Source: The Sun
