The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, Nigeria`s leading and uncompromising democracy, human rights, rule of law and citizens` security and safety advocacy Organization has issued a stern warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC against tampering with the results of the just concluded Enugu and Abia states governorship elections.
Intersociety alleged that the decision of the INEC National Headquarters to suspend the collation of the results involving Nkanu East and Nsukka Local Government Areas in Enugu State and Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia State and look into issues critically raised are pointers to an attempt to to manipulate the entire exercise as usual.
In a press statement issued yesterday, via Whatsapp, the group further warned that any reason adduced BT INEC must not be a seized opportunity to subvert the sacred electoral wishes of the People of the two States, insisting that nothing roguish must happen to Enugu and Abia Governorship results.
in the statement jointly signed by its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi; its Head, Democracy and Good Governance Program, Chinwe Umeche Esq. and its Head, Campaign and Publicity Department, Chidinma Udegbunam Esq., Intersociety
however noted that while the Collation officers for Abia state, Prof. Nnenna Oti and her Enugu State Party deserve preliminary credit for refusing to compromise their position in terms of the law. Her urgent warning is that the results of two gubernatorial elections must not be rigged or brutally suppressed.
Intersociety therefore noted that the task before INEC Headquarters on the issue is very simple: what is the actual number of registered voters/PVC holders (eligible voters) and the number of accredited voters (actual voters) in Nkanu East and Nsukka in Enugu State and Obingwa in Abia State?
“Flowing from the above, how many accredited voters voted and were they greater or lesser in number than the number of registered/accredited voters? In other words: is it correct to say that the 30,000 votes padded and added in Nkanu East were greater or lesser than the number of its registered/PVC holders/accredited voters?”
“In Obingwa, Abia State, is it also correct to say that the 72,000 votes being smuggled in were greater or lesser in number than the number of registered/PVC holders/accredited voters?, adding, INEC must resist attempts to smuggle In magic results In Nkanu East and Obingwa”.
“Intersociety has investigated and found out that the real issues in contention and at the center of controversy involving Nkanu East (Enugu) and Obingwa (Abia) Governorship results` conundrum are desperate attempts by gubernatorial incumbents in Enugu and Abia to smuggle in magic results into the main results so as to outnumber and corner the majority results to their favored Governorship Candidates”.
“This is more so when the manufactured results are strongly believed to be far above the total registered or accredited voters with PVCs in Nkanu East, Enugu State and Obingwa, Abia State. There were also objections from incumbents in the Enugu government that the results of the Nsukka Local Government Area gave or manufactured 30,000 votes for the Labor Party candidate.
“It is instructive to note that the Nsukka Local Government Area is the most densely populated LGA internationally in Enugu State, if not the Southeast. It is also one of the largest recipients of the federal government's monthly revenue allocation, while Nkanu East is a small rural area with a predominantly sedentary population.
“Nkanu East's 30,000 magic votes also account for more than half of the 15,000 registered PVC/certified voters. also turned out. In Obingwa, Abia State, the 72,000 magic votes smuggled are three times the 23,000 PVC holders/certified voters.