The People’s Redemption Party has rejected the outcome of the Enugu North Senatorial District by election, describing the exercise as a mockery of democracy and calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the poll.
Speaking with journalists in Nsukka after monitoring the election, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the South East, Peter Okafor, alleged that the exercise was characterised by widespread violence, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching and other irregularities that undermined the credibility of the process.
Okafor said he was shocked by the level of violence recorded during what should have been a routine senatorial by election. According to him, incidents of thuggery and the forceful seizure of electoral materials created an atmosphere that discouraged free and fair participation.
He also claimed that some members of the party were attacked during the exercise. According to him, one supporter was allegedly shot while another suffered severe injuries after being attacked with an axe. He further alleged that electoral officials and security personnel were absent in some polling units.
The PRP chieftain urged INEC to either cancel the election or declare the party’s candidate, Charles Ugwuanyi, as the winner.
The Director General of the PRP Campaign Organisation, Juliet Ugwuoke, also faulted the conduct of the election. She called for the poll to be nullified, alleging that violence was widespread across the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district.
Ugwuoke said she personally monitored the election across the district and alleged that party agents were chased away from some polling units during the voting process.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress also rejected the outcome of the election. Its senatorial candidate, Bishop Oscar Ossai, said the decision followed consultations with party leaders, agents, election observers, stakeholders and supporters throughout the district.
In a statement, Ossai alleged that the election failed to meet the standards of transparency, fairness and credibility expected of a democratic process.
He claimed that reports from across the district indicated several irregularities, including the alleged non use of the Bi modal Voter Accreditation System in some polling units and claims that the voter accreditation process was bypassed in certain locations.
The NDC candidate also expressed concern over what he described as discrepancies between results announced at polling units and those recorded during the collation process.
According to him, other reported violations included vote buying, voter inducement, intimidation, violence, unlawful thumb printing and the manipulation of ballot papers, all of which he said breached established electoral guidelines.
Ossai maintained that the reported incidents raised serious concerns over whether the declared results truly reflected the wishes of the electorate. He added that while the allegations would require proper legal examination, they were significant enough to cast doubt on both the credibility and outcome of the election.
He disclosed that his legal team, working alongside the party, had begun compiling documentary evidence, witness statements, polling unit records, video footage and other materials to support any legal action before the appropriate authorities.
The NDC candidate also sympathised with voters, party agents and supporters who allegedly suffered harassment, intimidation, violence or physical injuries during the election. He urged security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into all reported incidents and ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
