Coalition of Civil Society Organizations numbering over 35, have come out to criticize the just concluded Local Government Area election in Abia state, saying the process was marred by Irregularities and violations of democratic principles.
The groups who spoke under the umbrella body of Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, said the Local Government election which happens to be the first election the Governor of the State would conduct, was characterized by democratic backsliding and constitutional abuse.
In a Press Conference in Umuahia, the Leader of the Coalition group, Engr Simon Diogu, alleged that election did not take place as scheduled in the entire state, except in some stage managed polling units for media show.
According to the group, in any democratic State, it is always necessary that elections comply with stipulated rules and guidelines to ensure a smooth power transit, in line with democratic principles and global best practices, which the group posited is the essence of accrediting civil society organizations to observe any election.
In their stance, the group said the intention to observe election, is to be able to access the degrees of compliance of relevant stakeholders, such as, the Election Management Body, Political Parties and their Supporters, as well as, Security Agencies, to the relevant laws, as provided by the Constitution and the Electoral Laws of the Country.
The group observed that the Local Government election in Abia, faced critical issues, including, non-availability of election materials and personnel for the election, intimidation and harassment of innocent voters by the security outfits; The Abia State Vigilante Group, among others
They alleged that votes were allotted to political parties even those that did not participate in the election.
” Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area is the worst hit in the election malpractices perpetrated by the state government in connivance with the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) and Security agents. We have enough pictorial and video evidence(s) to substantiate our claims that there was no election in the entire LGA of Isiala Ngwa South.
“The stage managed areas where the election took place for media show, were only in the polling units of the governor and that of the ZLP candidates”.
They added that ballot papers for the election in Isialangwa South LGA were thumb printed and results carefully written.
“Due to the disenfranchisement of voters in the LGA, there were protest across the entire Local Government Area, especially places like; Umuogor, Amaise Aiyebe Ward 1, Akunekpu Eziama Ward 6, among others. It took the intervention and presence of the Military to bring the situation that would have snowballed into serious election violence of destruction of lives and properties under control.
“The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alioha Loveday Nwachinemere, could not vote in his poling unit in Nvosi, due to non-availability of election materials and personnel. More so, he was mal-handled by some personnel of the State security outfit, which resulted to a little crisis between his teaming supporters and the security men, when he raised an alarm that his life is been under threat.
“The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), did not participate in the election in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, as they did not have or file any candidate, but it is shamefully surprising that ABSIEC in their manipulated results and allotment of votes, gave such a humongous number of votes to AGPA, while placing Alioha Loveday Nwachinemere the popular choice of the people and candidate of the PDP, a distant last, giving the election victory to an unpopular candidate in an unknown party, the ZLP.
“It is shocking and surprising that the number of votes allotted to the candidate of the ZLP as the winner of the election, as declared by ABSIEC in an election that was characterized by no materials and voter apathy and others, was far higher than the total valid votes cast during the 2023 General Elections”.
However, the group, described the concluded election as a jamboree, falling short of global best practices for acceptable democratic elections and wondered how the Governor of the state, Dr Alex Otti, who is a product of credible and peaceful election, would compromise democratic principles.
The Civil Society Organizations further called on the Governor to save his image as a man of justice and fairness, by directing appropriately for the suspension of the ABSIEC chairman, Prof George Chima, for bringing such a shame to Ndi-Abia and also direct for the cancellation of the election results, particularly that of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, as a way of exonerating himself and his government from the disgrace.
They argued that the nation’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has shown commitment in the Local Government autonomy for rapid grassroots development, calling for his intervention, to ensure that the right democratic and constitutional procedures are followed in electing Local Government Chairmen instead of the selection strategy used in Abia.
The group added that the National Assembly should expedite action in amending the relevant sections of our Constitution, ensuring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), takes over the conduct of Local Government election in Nigeria.
“As civil society organization, we are committed to strengthening democratic values and constitutional rights of citizens and we are ready to mobilize our teaming members across Abia State and beyond for a peaceful protest and all other democratic means to ensure that our laws are been protected, including a legal action against ABSIEC, the State government and the Zenith Labour Party”.
