The just announced results of the off-cycle governorship election in Edo State is nothing but a clear manifestation of desperation by the ruling All Progressives Congress APC government to annex as many states as possible in readiness for the 2027 elections.
This is nothing but the truth, else how on earth could a candidate that was the clear favorite suddenly lose an election that he was in pole position to win?
As if he was a prophet, the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki had, prior to the election, refused to sign the peace accord, citing an unfavorable atmosphere in the build-up to the election True to his fears, the election was widely flawed and marred by widespread irregularities, including vote buying, falsification of results, apathy, and intimidations.
Like a scene in a movie, Nigerians and the world helplessly watched as state actors and thugs unleashed terror, harassed, arrested and detained PDP members and supporters paving the way for APC agents and compromised INEC officials to manipulate the ballot process.
This position is corroborated by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), which monitored the governorship election declaring that the results from several polling units were altered at coalition centers while the overall conduct of the election lacked credibility.
On their part, Yiaga Africa, one of the accredited observers of the election while faulting the conduct of the poll and rejecting the results as lacking integrity said, they deployed the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology for the election involving 300 stationary and 25 roving observers, covering a representative sample of polling units across all 18 local government areas of the state.
The CSOs have jointly called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the results based on what was uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, within the time stipulated by section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
The calls for review comes just as the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has hinted that the party would go to court to challenge the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the poll and governor-elect of Edo State.
Such show of shame by the Independent National Electoral Commission shows an umpire that has refused to be apolitical and make amends for its woeful performance in the last general elections where potential winners were robbed leading to litigations in courts.
It bears repeating that INEC over the years has refused to remain independent as its name depicts, often succumbing to the whims and caprices of the government of the day churning out imaginary results all in a bid to please its pay-masters.
We therefore support calls for the overhaul of the powers of INEC and the removal of the current chairman who has failed woefully. INEC must be made to demonstrate that the results published were duly verified and represent the outcome at the polling units.
Furthermore, we would welcome reform in the judiciary that would ensure actions that go against ethics and compliance are duly punished while also ensuring that every obstacle impeding justice in a timely manner is removed.
Similarly, the existing process of replacing Commissioners of Police or any security arm of the government shortly before the election must be reversed unless there is a proven case of breach using the legislature.
Finally, Nigerians must take to the streets on a daily peaceful protests/public demonstrations until this injustice is corrected within a year from today as it has been proven beyond every reasonable doubt that no party can win the cancerous APC.
The above calls are based on the strong need to practice and strengthen our democracy and ensure that people are able to peacefully vote out politicians whom they deem not to have performed.
Chief. A.E Onwuka
25/09/24