By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being out to carry out injustice in the December 2020, Senatorial re-run in Cross River North district.
The right group posited that the case in the election stands out as one in which the supposedly election umpire is bent on causing great damage to democracy in Nigeria and rob the duly elected candidate, Senator Stephen Adi Odey of the victory.
The Network of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria (NDWN) said that ‘’the defense of our democracy” is not only sacrosanct but a responsibility for all men of good will.
The Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chijioke Onyekaonwu, said, ”It is a fact of reality if I say that the survival of our nascent democracy will be highly jeopardized if the electioneering process is marred by corruption, deceit, and bribery thereby breeding injustice and political instability.”
He stated that, the election management is agreeably the most sensitive process in a democracy and it is expected that the umpire shouldered with such important and sensitive responsibility must have transparency and rule of law as his or her beacon. This is in order to produce a credible outcome or result.
“ The INEC involvement and actions in the said election amounts to a total decampment from the electoral process and is nothing short of standing the electoral law on its head. The PDP primaries for the December 5th election was held on November 5th according to the provisions of the electoral act.
“The primary election was held and all requirements according to the electoral provisions were put in place including the presence of the INEC chief observe and the local government EOs. The party electorates voted overwhelmingly to elect Senator Stephen Adi Odey as winner. The closest runner up with a high margin Hon Jarigbe Agom on sensing his loss walked away before the end of the election.
“The senatorial election was held on the 5th December 2020 and after the election, Senator Stephen Odey came out on top with a high margin and a total vote of 129,207 to beat his closest rival Joe Agi the APC candidate who scored 19,165.votes and Subsequently, INEC issued Senator Adi Odey with a certificate of return. The intrigues and desperation of INEC and Hon Jarigbe did not end with the election as they in connivance with one chief John Alaga, a close friend of Hon Jarigbe who now filed an isolated matter in FCT high court Abuja purportedly to challenge the qualification of Hon Jarigbe whom he mischievously referred to as the winner of the primaries in the motion, stating that his certificates are questionable and as such not qualified to run for the election.
“The court ignorant of the real status of Hon Jarigbe and treating the matter on its face value dismissed the certificate issue as it was not proved beyond reasonable doubt intentionally by the conspiring ally Chief Alaga. INEC in an open bias and acting in grievous error hurriedly issued another certificate of return to Hon Jarigbe without recourse to their election records. It is worthy to note that neither Senator Stephen Odey nor the PDP was joined as parties in the said suit.
“This unfolding comic drama being directed by the INEC chairman has in its characters a stranger with a strange interest, how else will one describe the sudden interest of Gov. Nyesom Wike in the internal politics of Cross River North
Senatorial district? The enormous size of blunder presently going on display is an indication that an equivalent size in sum is passing as bribe under the table. It is obvious where the funding for this democratic blunder is coming from.
“We are not unaware of the relationship between Gov. Nyesom Wike and the INEC chairman dating back to many years of close affiliation. Wike should face the task of governing Rivers state and desist from stirring trouble all over the country. Just to fan his vice presidential ambitions. He has a right to aspire to any elective position but that will not be at the detriment of societal peace and collective interest of the country”, the Network said.
“No court at any level ordered INEC to issue Hon Jarigbe with a certificate of return nor did any court direct that Hon jarigbe should be sworn in as the senator representing cross river north senatorial district. Hon Jarigbe on national television yesterday 14th march 2020 told the whole country that he has secured his swearing in for Tuesday 16th march, as according to him, he has his report sitting at the senate presidents table. His statement further indicates his desperation and connivance with some dark forces to truncate our
democratic gains and values in the national assembly. Any action by INEC or anybody based on the purported judgment is tantamount to usurping the power of the judiciary and a recipe for anarchy.
“This rascality and open bias by INEC in this matter can only mean one thing, that a personal interest is trying to override a public interest and we as watchdogs of democracy cannot sit by and watch democratic principles truncated by
anyone no matter how highly placed. We demand that the INEC chairman should retrace his steps in his present action of subversion of justice. We also demand that that a high level commission of enquiry be set up to measure the culpability of the INEC personnel involved in this. This action has become a source of international embarrassment to our electoral system, and our nation at large.
“We commend the resilience, transparency and commitment of the senate president Ahmed Lawan, PHD and the principle officers of the 9th senate for standing for justice and rule of law at this point of our democratic history. The senate president’s dismissal and refusal to implement the demands of Hon Jarigbe is an indication of strength of character and patriotism. Posterity will remember you for standing with the people in our country’s quest for democratic excellence.
“Finally, we call on Senator Stephen Odey to disregard the distractions and actions of Hon Jarigbe and INEC and concentrate on his duty of giving the Cross river north senatorial district the excellent representation they deserve,” it concluded.
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