How INEC bungled Edo gov election at collation, by observer groups

A total of 25 observer groups have said last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State fell short of expectations.

The group supported the position of Yiaga Africa, which said the Edo election lacked credibility because the results were fraught with alteration of figures.

They particularly noted the election was bungled by the poll umpire at the collation of results which did not comply with the Electoral Act, 2022.

Also, some 30 civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms have presented 37 draft electoral recommendations to the National Assembly to help in the review of the 2022 amended electoral laws.

A statement by Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, Anyasor Gabriel, and Sunny Elekwa, on behalf of the observer groups, rejected the collation of ward and local government results at the INEC state collation centre in Benin City, saying it is contrary to the law.

They however said they were satisfied with more than 4,500 polling units’ results at the election.

The statement said, “We reject the result declared because there are two sets of result sheets. One was taken to the field and another one to APC in Edo North, some parts of Edo South and Edo Central.

“We also observed that the military and police disrupted collation of results at the wards and local governments collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials that collated results, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. There is significant concern about the credibility of the results collation process.

“We totally reject the result of the election, which declared the All Progressive Congress APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. There was militarisation and use of impunity at wards, local governments and state collation centres.

“INEC, military and police have clearly violated the provisions of Electoral Act 2022 concerning the collation of results in governorship election. Results were only collated at units and some wards.”

At another press conference on Wednesday, the 30 other CSOs, under Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms, said the country was at a crossroads and needed a quick electoral reform to address issues arising from the elections.

The press conference was addressed by Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) ElectHER, International Press Centre (IPC), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo.

Others were Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM), Oyo; Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI), Ekiti; The Kukah Centre; Nigeria Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF); Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); SOS Children’s Villages (SOS); TAF African; and Yiaga Africa.

The CSOs said, “The proposals encapsulated in this memorandum stem from a comprehensive analysis of the pressing challenges that have plagued our electoral system for too long.

“They are the product of extensive research, input from key stakeholders, and, importantly, the reflections drawn from our experiences during the 2023 general elections.

“We have also incorporated valuable recommendations from domestic and international election observers, who have called attention to areas requiring urgent reform if we are to restore public trust in our democratic institutions.

“As the National Assembly embarks on yet another round of electoral reforms, we present this Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms as a crucial resource, which serves as a roadmap designed to guide lawmakers and all election stakeholders through priority areas in need of immediate attention.

“These amendments are strategic in their scope and assess, ambitious in their vision, yet they are also rooted in practicality, responding to the realities of our current electoral system.”

The groups said the memorandum focused on “three core pillars of the electoral legal framework for the conduct of elections: the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Elections.”

APGA plots to suspend Soludo over alleged anti-party activities

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is taking significant steps to suspend Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, following accusations of engaging in anti-party activities.

This development was revealed by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, who stated that the governor has been undermining the Supreme Court-recognized National Working Committee (NWC) tasked with restoring peace within APGA.

During a press briefing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Njoku expressed his disappointment with Soludo, accusing him of consistently sabotaging efforts aimed at promoting unity within the party.

Njoku stressed that Soludo’s actions have been detrimental to the party’s interests, leading to further instability and weakening APGA’s internal cohesion.

“They are pushing us to the limit, and they seem to believe that the governor of Anambra State is bigger than the party. No one is bigger than the party,” Njoku stated, emphasising that the NWC would not tolerate further violations from the governor.

Njoku further expressed disappointment over Soludo’s involvement in the upcoming local government elections in Anambra, scheduled for September 28, despite the internal turmoil within the party.

“Charles Soludo must remember that he operates within a political system—he’s not an emperor,” Njoku added.

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Edozie explained that on Thursday, September 26, 2024, the National Working Committee (NWC) will reveal the names of party members suspended for anti-party activities, including Anambra State Governor Soludo.

In preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship election, the national chairman emphasized that the party does not have a sole candidate for the election. He expressed skepticism about Soludo’s chances of winning the party’s primaries.

Edozie invited anyone interested in becoming the governor of Anambra State to come forward and participate in what he described as a seamless process.

The statement reads, “If you remember, just about a week ago or two weeks ago, we just left the Court of Appeal where a stay was applied at the Court of Appeal to stay me being recognized by INEC despite the fact that the Supreme Court said in their own words that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as national chairman of APGA is not justiciable.

“They went to Awka and filed the suit, suddenly the judge in Awka was very smart, and he pulled out of it. They came to the Federal High Court again.

“They filed another one behind our back, they were applying for an interim injunction behind the back of the national chairman of the party, behind the back of APGA, behind the back of the orders of the Court of Appeal, which asked that they should enforce the judgment as pay or affirm the enforcement of the judgment, as per the Buhari High Court.

“They went forward behind the back of APGA and INEC were very smart, and INEC have written that everything they said is not true.

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“The local government elections are going to take place in Anambra on the 28th but what we should understand about this is that Charles Soludo, the governor, I don’t know, he should know that it’s a political system he’s not an emperor.

“He has gone forward to get the House of Assembly to adopt, to make a law whereby the party cannot field their candidates.

“They went to the field and conducted something behind the back of the party, where they assembled certain people who are conducting anti party activities.

“If you notice, the whole NWC are here, and a group of people are being suspended from the party. As you know, I’ve been preaching peace because it’s not in the interest of the party for us to start suspending elected officers, to start suspending a governor, to start suspending House of Assembly members, to start suspending the senator from Abia.

“They are pushing us far to the limit, and they are believing that the governor of Anambra State is bigger than the party. No one is bigger than the party, and so maybe they are playing on that I want peace, that I will not change, even the beauty.”

“You will remember what the chairman of the BOT said, that we the NWC, must take action so that we don’t look like toothless bulldogs,” Edozie said.

He stated, “This is a political party, and APGA is here to stay. We have reached an 80% consensus on the individuals who will be suspended from the party, including the governor. I ask, should we really suspend our only governor? However, if he is merely pretending or trying to appease others while allowing honest members to engage in anti-party activities, we must take action.”

“We need to address this issue decisively. I’m uncertain about what Soludo’s intentions are or what challenges he faces, but he needs to align himself with the party,” he added.

APGA plots to suspend Soludo over alleged anti-party activities

APC will replicate Edo template in Ondo, Anambra elections – Ganduje

National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the party would use its template in Edo State governorship election to win the November 16 election in Ondo State.