By Stella Odueme
A coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Accredited Domestic Election Observers for the 2023 General Elections have tasked the election tribunals on ensuring that the will of the electorate prevail as the group expressed worry why election results from Okigwe Local Government Area in Imo State where it alleged elections did not take place should be higher than Mbano with higher voter strength.
The coalition comprising 20 civil society groups disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
A statement signed by the team leader, Comrade Victor Kalu and team secretary, Mazi Zeb Ijewa read by Kalu expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the National Assembly election especially the Imo North Senatorial Election in Okigwe Local Government Area.
It read in parts;
“We opine that this situation is a general phenomenon in Imo State but the Imo North issue and particularly Okigwe, is very heartrending and capable of exacerbating an already election tension soaked zone. We wonder why results from Okigwe Local Government Area which is notorious for election apathy due to security apprehension and recurrent electoral violence should by far outnumber the results collated from Mbano that is more peaceful with higher voter strength. This is apparent electoral aberration which must not go unreconciled and allow to stand from available statistic.
“Therefore, as accredited INEC observers, we have resolved to open the situation up to the Nigerian public as well as election tribunal committee for Imo North Senatorial District Elections for them to be guided in their duty with good conscience to be fair and just to deliver clinically processed and justifiable conclusion.
“Since the election tribunals, like the courts are the last hope of a helpless and distressed victims of electoral sabotage, we urge the tribunal members to be courageous and duty bound to do the needful by reversing the many elections mysteriously declared against those that might have been robbed of victory. Let the real votes count. If INEC could no longer ensure the right votes count, the tribunals should effect a correction of the ugly trend and set the record straight so as to forestall future negation of the people’s electoral legitimacy, rights and franchise.
“Our position is based on the factual and concrete evidence we have on ground. The mutilated and badly “doctored” result sheets represent a very shameful and desperate exhibition of some mischievous elements on a mission to derail or truncate the very secured tenets and principles of democratic practice and free electoral process,”
He accused of undermining the electoral process saying; “INEC and its officials have continued to frustrate the efforts of the observers by undermining our noble and patriotic contributions to the smooth running of the electoral processes.”
While expressing his disappointment over the situation, Ijewa called on the tribunal committee members to live above board and discharge their duties without fear or favour.
