INEC kicks-off governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo states, amid of claims of ‘pre-written’ result

[By VICTOR NZE]

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kicked off its conduct of governorship elections in three states of the country, including; Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, this Saturday, November 11.

This is as controversies and uncertainties becloud the elections in these states as stakeholders and electorate remains uncertain of the exercise, even as claims of pre-written election result sheets emerge in some states.

In Imo State, the recent brutalization of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, has thrown the state government and its All Progressives Congress (APC) party into a disadvantage, amid allegations that the assault on the labour leader was plotted by state sponsored actors with full knowledge of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Already, aviation workers have grounded the Imo airport, just as the NLC and its sister group, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have directed their members to down tools effective from November 14 over among other demands, restitution for the assaulted NLC leader.

Igbo advocacy groups like the Ohanaeze Ndigbo had cause to also recently enjoin the electorate in the state to ignore threats from some quarters and vote.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu had called on the Imo electorate and people to ‘turn out en-mass to cast their votes for any candidate of their choice.’

The Ohanaeze leader also condemned threats by some unnamed persons warning the electorate to stay away from the November 11 exercise, describing such calls as unacceptable.

“I have been told that some people have issued threats prohibiting Imo people from coming out to cast their votes. In fact, I understand that this group has issued a total sit at home order from November 9, to November 12, 2023. If Imo people should comply to this, there will be no election in Imo State and that will create chaos.

“I am therefore with every sense of responsibility and love appealing to the leader of this group to rescind his decision to order a sit at home. I have found it very necessary to sound this notice and warning because we in Igboland have had enough of bloodshed. We fought a civil war which took the lives of millions of our people and also incalculable losses in property. We do not want a situation whereby any part of Igboland will be exposed to any type of destructive violence. I had earlier made my point on this issue very clear. As a father, I prefer a peaceful resolution of all problems. I prefer a non-kinetic approach. It is my belief that all disputes are best resolved over a round table dialogue. Bloodshed and destruction of our property cannot be a solution.

“Furthermore, a very false news is currently being circulated in the social media alleging that President Tinubu accused the Governor of Imo State His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodinma of persuading him not to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from incarceration. As the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I have investigated this matter and found it to be false and malicious in its entirety. Governor Hope Uzodinma never held such meeting with President Tinubu. To the contrary I have held discussions with Governor Hope Uzodinma and the other four Governors of the South East, namely; His Excellency, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, His Excellency, Alex Oti, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah and His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru and they all are firmly and irrevocably committed to the release of Nnamdi Kalu from incarceration.

“I will once more appeal to all those concerned to consider it a patriotic duty to rescind the call for a total sit at home and also the directive for instant murder of people who violate the sit-at-home-order. The information reaching Ohaneze Ndigbo is that a directive has been issued for some homes to be destroyed. I want to believe that this is an ordinary rumour because it is not in our character.

“Finally, I want through this medium to request all our sons and daughters who are aggrieved one way or the other to sheathe their swords and accept peaceful negotiation. Experience has shown that violence cannot resolve any problem, most problems are best resolved through peaceful negotiations. I am therefore making a passionate appeal to all those concerned to have a ceasefire to give us opportunity to look into the matter,” Iwuanyanwu said.

Similarly, and earlier in November, amid suspicion of plots by the state-sponsored actors to manipulate the electoral process, pro-secession group in the South East region, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) warned officials of INEC against rigging the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.

IPOB said it would not be silent and allow the Nigerian government to use INEC officials to carry out evil in the State.

A statement by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, penultimate week, cautioned INEC against creating a crisis in the state.

“The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable liberator Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu warns INEC not to throw Imo State into political crisis in the coming Imo State gubernatorial election.

“As much as IPOB does not get involved in the Nigeria fraudulent political selection called election, nevertheless, we are not going to be silent and watch the Nigeria Government use corrupt INEC officials to perpetuate evil in Imo State and by extension the Southeast Region.

“Everyone is familiar with INEC’s fraudulent activities during elections in Nigeria. INEC is not independent but fully dependent on the government in power or to any moneybag politician who lines their pockets.

“However, in this coming election in Imo State, INEC officials must very circumspect not to throw Imo State into crisis by becoming willing tools to renew another four years-mandate of suffering, hunger, and killings.

“INEC officials must not be another Supreme Court that imposed a rejected candidate on Imo Indigenes using the fulanized Supreme Court. That illegality of the Supreme Court threw Imo State into unwarranted suffering, political intimidation, and mass killings,” the group said.

According to IPOB, ‘Governor Hope Uzodinma has ensured that insecurity reigns supreme in Imo State and beyond,’ adding that ‘those who are colluding with him to rig him back into power should watch their back.’

“He who fetches ant-infested firewood has indirectly invited lizards for a party.

“Therefore, INEC officials that Hope Uzodinma handpicked and drafted to rig the Imo State election should be very careful not to buy a market that comes with heavy prices. We want these drafted INEC officials to know that Imo State people are groaning in pains from a killer government and it will be suicidal for them to subvert their wishes in this coming election because of money or threat,” Powerful wrote.

Meanwhile, in Kogi, main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Dino Melaye has raised the alarm over plans by the ruling APC in the state to manipulate the exercise.

ommenting via his Twitter (now X) handle, Melaye reported a case of pre-written result sheets in another local government area of the state.

“Another case of pre-filled results sheet in PU 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi state.”

Similarly, rights group, the YIAGA Africa called on INEC to investigate claims of already-prepared result sheets of the ongoing voting exercise in parts of Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of the state.

Yiaga, a non-profit civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement, made the call on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday morning.

“Dear @inecnigeria we received report of pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/magongo in Kogi State before commencement of voting.

“Kindly investigate and address this issue promptly to safeguard the integrity of the process,” YIAGA wrote.

It would be recalled that earlier Friday, INEC disclosed that a total of 1.83 million persons who collected their permanent voters cards (PVCs) are expected to vote in Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in the state.

Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Dr Gabriel Longpet, said this in Lokoja, the state capital, while briefing newsmen on the level of preparation of the commission, on Friday.

He said the commission had observed the necessary formalities expected for a free, fair and credible election.

“We have delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have been configured for deployment to Polling Units as the only means of voter verification and fingerprint/facial biometric authentication of voters.

“Polling Unit results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. All election duty officials have been trained.

“Arrangements have been made for land and maritime transportation to enable us commence voting on schedule.

“In spite of the extremely difficult terrain and physical infrastructure in some locations, we are determined to ensure that our officials are there waiting for voters rather than the voters waiting for our arrival,” he said.

However, the REC warned both staff and Ad-hoc staff working during this election to desist from the any act will tarnish the image of the commission, as perpetrators would be made to face wrath of law.

“For these off-cycle elections, the Commission is deploying two (2) National Commissioners, nine (9) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Administrative Secretaries (ASs) as well as additional staff from different States to each of the three States to support the process. They will be deployed across the senatorial zones in the States.”

In Bayelsa, despite two court judgements dismissing suits filed by APC members to disqualify the party’s governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, from contesting the election, the electorate is yet unsure if the embattled flagbearer will not face further litigations over his two-tenure charge at the court.

Two separate rulings in suits filed by aggrieved APC members challenging the eligibility of Sylva to contest the governorship poll following his previous earlier two terms served in the same office have so far been dismissed by the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court all in Abuja, which both cleared him to stand for the election, this Saturday, November 11.

However, the electorate has insisted that the decision by the courts was based on technicalities and not on the merit of the cases, as they express the reservations that a subsequent suit against a victorious Sylva may scale through.

The litigation is on the heels of emerging report that an INEC official was also abducted in the state.