* Describes the election as the worst, shambolic election held in Nigeria
*Predicts violence in Anambra guber poll
By Daniel Tyokua and Stellamaries Amuwa
Human rights body, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has called for the nullification of the Nov 11, 2023 ‘off-Cycle’ Imo Governorship Election by the judiciary, describing it as exercise “shambolic”, even as it advocates establishment of electoral court and voting process reforms in the country.
The research and investigative human rights organization made the call Sunday in Enugu during a media briefing.
”It is not only that the shambolic poll should judicially be nullified, but also an all-inclusive fresh poll must be conducted under an atmosphere of popular participation including access to PVCs and secured voting environment and voting materials.
“The above is urgently and popularly needed to be done in Imo State to restore the voting and the general citizens’ confidence in the judiciary and the country’s electoral process and have them back on track.
It noted that, ” the Arm of the Nigerian Government being called upon to rise to the occasion and do the needful in the instant case is the Nigerian judiciary per the 2023 Imo Governorship Election Petitions’ Tribunal (electoral court of first instance), the 2023 Imo State Governorship Appellate Tribunal (electoral court of second instance) and the 2023 Imo State Governorship Apex Tribunal (electoral court of last instance).
Addressing newsmen, board Chairman of the organization, Chief Emeka Umeagbalasi, alongside other officials of the group, alledged that the Imo off- cycle governorship election was characteristized by irregularities.
He said, “the three electoral courts being called upon are created and recognized by the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act as amended.
“While the Electoral Court of First Instance is set to deliver its judgment having adjourned for judgment since April 30, 2024 in line with constitutionally stipulated 180 days; the Electoral Courts of Second and Third (Last) instance are expected to review and deliver theirs in coming 120 days or four months (two months respectively) as lawfully required.”
The group posited that the development has provided the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, opportunity to rewrite the judicial wrongs in the state.
“Rare opportunity beckons on Retiring CJN Olukayode Ariwoola. The above is a test case for the Nigerian Judiciary under the leadership of retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria, JSC Olukayode Ariwoola and a rare opportunity to courageously return the Judiciary to the ‘saintly status quo’ of the yesterday years and save it from further bleeding.
“A rare opportunity has, therefore, beckoned on Retiring CJN Ariwoola to retire on August 22, 2024 at the mandatory retirement age of 70 years with honor by “politically” reversing the Jan 14, 2020 Imo State Governorship Supreme Court Hara-kiri.
“This clarion call on the country’s Judiciary, if popularly heeded, can upturn the comatose state of affair which the state has been plunged into since Jan 2021 including rescuing the State from uncontrollably continuing as a safe haven for state actor and non-state actor generated violent crimes and allied atrocities and their unchecked and uncaught perpetrators including ‘repeat-offenders’ or ‘repeat-perpetrators”.
The group insisted that the time has come for Electoral Court And Voting Process Reforms In Nigeria.
”From post-election dispensation of ‘justice’ in Nigeria or any part thereof.
“Judicial technicalities” have been found to be responsible for over 80% of brutal judicial subversion of the sacred electoral wishes of the conscientious Nigerian voting population.
“The standard practices in developed and developing democratic countries’ electoral courts are to fundamentally determine the field winners of the valid majority votes cast from among the total lawful cast votes emanating from polling centers or units through their manual or electronic voting systems.
“Time has also come for general and codified use of electronic and manual voting to be used side-by-side. Voting citizens must be allowed their sacred choice of using electronic voting or manual voting in Nigeria or any part thereof”.
