From Fred Itua, Abuja and George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) in the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, Senator Nathan Achonu and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, respectively have vowed to pursue their cases against the election Petition Tribunal’s verdict in favour of Governor Hope Uzodimma to a logical conclusion, even if it means up to the Supreme Court.
At a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, Achonu said he received the judgment with so much sadness and disappointment.
“The Tribunal had in its Judgment dismissing my petition stated that I was unable to prove that there was substantial noncompliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the 11th November 2023 Imo State Governorship Election.
“According to the Tribunal, my inability to prove that there was substantial noncompliance with the Electoral Act in that election, stemmed from my nonproduction of the BVAS Machine before the Tribunal.
“Let me emphasise that this judgment has not in any way whittled down my belief in democracy and the judicial process of our dear country, Nigeria, it has rather, unlike the past ones, emboldened me to insist on the right thing being done, enough is enough!
“I will do everything legal possible to challenge the judgment on Appeal up to the Supreme Court. I am very optimistic that justice will be served in the long run because there are still upright, courageous and incorruptible justices in our Judiciary.
“Furthermore, I am going to seek for an order of Mandamus compelling the Attorney General of the Federation to proceed against the several INEC officers and Collation/Returning Officers who have been guilty of electoral offenses and are walking the streets free while Nigerians are wallowing in poverty and insecurity which was occasioned by their acts.
“During the build up to the November 11 Governorship election, insecurity was used to unleash terror and brutality on political opponents.
“I narrowly escaped assassination from his men who tried to stop me from attending a Church program at Obibiezena in Owerri North LGA.
“We defied all those terror and intimidation to campaign in the entire 27 LGAs and 305 wards including Omuma, Hope Uzodimma’s Ward and hometown.
“Then after taking all these risks and mobilizing people to come out and vote, he thinks he can steal their votes and mandates with connivance with INEC and now the Tribunal. It will not happen! Never! we will not allow that to stand.
“I am going to pursue this case up to the Supreme Court, to recover our people’s mandate and I strongly believe that the final outcome will strengthen our electoral jurisprudence.”
He said besides the fact that the production of the BVAS Machine before the Tribunal was the responsibility of INEC both as a Party to the Petition and as a public institution, he had endeavoured to ensure that the BVAS was brought before the Tribunal by obtaining an Order from the same Tribunal compelling INEC to produce the BVAS Machine before the Tribunal.
Also reacting, the state chairman of the PDP, Sir Chidi Dike, who briefed journalists Owerri, said the judges of the election tribunal did not base their judgment on the facts and evidence presented before them.
He also disclosed that the state party would appeal the Tribunal’s judgment at the Appeal court.
“We state in unmistakable terms that the population of Imo electorates rejected the candidate of the APC and placed their confidence in the PDP following the abysmal performance of the APC in Imo State.
“The peace-loving people of Imo State had before the poll expressed their tiredness and loss of confidence in the Governance of APC and yearned for a change which they trooped out en masse in November to further elucidate, but their efforts were thwarted by INEC and their officials.”