The Independent National Electoral Commission has been urged by the Abia State Human Rights and Pro-democracy Group to step up to the plate right away and spare Abia State from an avoidable catastrophe by clearing up the confusion that arose during the Saturday governorship election.
The group noted with shock that the INEC State Returning Officer, Resident Electoral Commissioner, and other commission actors “are being pressured” with the outcome of the results from Obingwa LGA of Abia State in a statement issued by its coordinator, Mr. Damian Ogudike, on Tuesday.
According to the rights organization, the majority of Abia State residents spoke out loudly with their votes on who they want to represent them in government, beginning with the presidential and National Assembly elections and continuing through last Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.
The group urged INEC to defy any pressure and refuse to accept “flawed results” obtained from a specific local government area in order to protect the commission’s and its agents’ reputations from public contempt.
The statement read, “Tension is building up already across different parts of the state by the restive youths who are not taking chances these days in allowing their mandate to be stolen by any political actor or parties.
“The desperation to take power by hook or crook being exhibited by some forces leaves much to be desired while those who read the signs of the present times don’t need any prophet or seer to tell them that things have changed.
“It is our unshaken position that input legitimacy should not be toyed with at any time in the democratic process as the process through which a public official emerges into public office is very much vital as to also what the public person does in office after getting power.
“Subverting the peoples’ will in a brazen manner and resort to the provocative slogan ‘If not satisfied, go to court’ will not be accepted anymore in Abia State. The people deserve the kind of a leader they gave their consent to, through the democratic process of voting and no more shall they be deprived of this their guaranteed democratic rights.
“To do the contrary poses serious danger to the society and we implore INEC and other desperate politicians to avoid setting Abia State on fire by their actions or inactions. Let the outcome of the final result be a reflection of the wish of the electorate who braved all odds to come out and exercise their franchise,” the right group stated.
