Imo guber: Election Observers reject result, call for cancellation

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Governor Hope Uzodinma as the winner, beating Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Athan Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party, LP, to the second and third position, respectively.

However, the election observers in a press conference rejected the result and called for its cancellation.

“It is with utmost concern and sense of patriotism that we, under the auspices of forum of accredited domestic civil society organizations, herein after refer to as “Election Observers” address you,” the group said in a statement, signed by Kenneth Umez, Director of Operations, She for She Initiative for Women and Girl Child, on behalf of eight other groups.

“As you are all aware, the span of election observation and monitoring covers activities organised by stakeholders, the INEC, political parties, security agencies, etc. before, during and after elections. This is clearly stipulated by the electoral umpire, regarding election monitoring and observation.

“Therefore, our observation mission provides opportunities for us to engage in constructive assessment, review and criticism. As such, we are determined to ensure that the election processes is improved.

“And also, the sovereign rights of the people to choose who governs or represents them are exercised according to rules and basic international standards.

“In accordance with the rights to observe the entire election processes, which include pre- election activities, during and after elections, this forum of accredited observers for Imo State gubernatorial election express dismay over gross irregularities in the conduct of the Imo State governorship election on November 11, 2023.

“It is unfortunate that incidents of electoral malpractices were recorded across board. This includes: Vote-buying, voter intimidation, voters apathy, and notable violence. 

“Our observation, therefore, the following represent facts in videos, text and also in pictorial.”

The statement highlighted eleven flaws that characterised the election as:

1. That the election was marred by irregularities characterized by vote-buying and physical attacks on persons who were out to exercise their franchise.

2. That the Independent National Electoral Commision need to address the people of Imo and generality of Nigerians as to why voting was carried out in many polling units without the use of the BVAS meant for accreditation of voters.

3. In several instances, security agencies were complicit as observed and shown in several viral videos where they compromised their duties of ensuring credible Election. By that they aided and abbeted the massive rigging as witnessed in the Imo State election.

4. In one instance, a voter was attacked in an attempt to expose open day vote-buying with cash.

5. That INEC is hereby urged to provide answers as to why elections did not hold in many PUs. In this instance, we observed that in nine of the polling units there were no elections in Orsu LGA.

6. That INEC may have exhibited flaws in many areas, one of which is outright relocation without notice to voters. In Orsu LGA, voters were not informed of INEC’s plan to conduct cluster election, hence many voters were disenfranchised. The question INEC must answer is who are those that voted in Orsu? Are they from Orsu or strangers?

7. That in Okigwe LGA, we observed that no result sheet was delivered to polling centres in all the eleven wards in Okigwe LGA. We also observed that election did not occur in eight polling units in the same election. The INEC and police authorities in Okigwe may have to explain where the collation for Okigwe LGA was done.

8. We also witnessed that in Ehime Mbano, Ikeduru, Ideato North, among others witnessed desperate ballot box snatching as ball boxes were snatched and delivered to the fortresses of political party actors in the area.

9. That other areas observed without election is Oru-East LGA, Ideato-North, Ikeduru, Oru West and Owerri West LGA.

9. We also observed that Ward Collation was not done in the wards as promised by INEC before the election. Especially in Okigwe Zone, Orlu zone and in almost parts of the state. Specifically, In Emekuku ward 1, the INEC ward collation officer disappeared from the Emekuku High School collation centre. Some security agents appeared from nowhere, shooting into the air, tear gassed the environment and whisked away the INEC staff and made away with the results.

10. That we noticed with utmost dismay as to why there was upload of results from EC8A from various polling units where election did not hold yet it was seen on the IREV.

11.  In over 2000 polling units results as uploaded and seen in the IREV, the total number of votes as allocated to candidates were higher than the actual number of accredited voters, which in all totality demerits the integrity of the Imo Governorship Elections.

Finally, the Election Observers declared: “We, Therefore, call for total cancelation of the November 11, 2023 Imo State Governorship Election.”