|
Listen to article
|
The Labor Party (LP) has rekindled its push for a nullification of the 2023 Imo Governorship election outcome, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), amid growing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.
At a packed press conference in Abuja on Monday, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, passionately argued that the party’s relentless pursuit of justice in the Imo State governorship election debacle is ultimately a fight for the rights and interests of the Imo people and the very fabric of democracy itself.
Ifoh said, “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.
“Recall, also that in 2020, Imo state was a victim of controversial decision that dramatically altered the political landscape of the state.
“Despite clear evidence of over-voting, which should have led to the cancellation of the election, the court handed the governorship to a candidate in the face of over voting.
“These decisions in both 2020 and 2023, not only contradicted the principles of fairness and transparency but also set a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of our electoral process.
“As we approach another Supreme Court judgment, the question of over voting rears its head again.
“If it scales through again, it means that over voting will become an unwritten law of electoral jurisprudence in Imo state.
Read also: Labor Party: Peter Obi Nigeria’s Only Hope For Salvation
“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.
“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. “
Giving insights into why the party took the matter to the highest court in the land, Ifoh said, “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.
It was observed that the central issue hinges on the total number of voters accredited for the November 2023 governorship election, which INEC had officially confirmed to be a little above 500,000.
It was pointed out that the aggregate votes counted, which led to the APC candidate’s victory declaration, swelled beyond 700,000, creating a massive disparity of over 200,000 votes that warranted scrutiny.
