By Tony Adibe
The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during the Enugu Gubernatorial election Chief Frank Nweke Jnr has vehemently rejected the result of the exercise, insisting that it was a mere assault on the Nigeria’s democracy.
The APGA standard bearer in the election emphasised that he would “explore and exhaust every action” required to ensure the legitimacy of the next government in Enugu State.
Chief Nweke, who addressed a press conference on Friday in Enugu, described the election, from which Dr. Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged the winner, as a “complete sham and far from being free, fair and transparent.”
He further alleged that the entire process, down to the declaration of its winner, was a “complete farce and would lack legitimacy for as long as it stands.” The former 2-time Minister said: “I often said during my campaign that I would offer my congratulations and best wishes to whoever emerged in a fair and transparent manner. This election was far from fair and certainly, not transparent.
“The violence, thuggery, intimidation, use of divisive sentiments, and the ‘weaponization’ of poverty against our people, which the Peoples Democratic Party deployed in the course of the campaign and the elections reflect the desperation of the party to hold on to power against the will of the people. It was never about service or the good of ndi Enugu; and the impunity with which these wicked acts were carried out is sickening.
“Very early in the morning of Saturday, March 18, town criers travelled through several communities in Enugu state ordering anyone who would not vote in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party to stay home”.
Nweke further stated: “The results of Nkanu East Local Government Area which were contested, got reviewed and revised by the national office of INEC without any basis given for the change in numbers. If it was a case of over-voting, the expectation is that the result from the Local Government Area should have been cancelled.
“It does seem that the numbers were simply manufactured to fit a preprogrammed outcome and read out to the public, as can be inferred from the Returning Officer of INEC in the state, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe’s comments about acting under authority and reading out what he had been given”.
Nweke further bemoaned what he regarded as his disappointment in INEC, the purported compromised security operatives, the abject poverty the impoverished masses who live in Enugu slumps are facing, but also spoke about optimism that things would be better in the future.
He said: “I am utterly disappointed with the manner in which the Independent National Electoral Commission handled the 2023 elections. I am also saddened by the actions of some members of our security agencies. Both of these institutions of State let the people down when they became compromised by a few desperate power mongers and looters.
“The unchecked intimidation and violence, the massive rewriting of results and the overall abuse of the people’s would have failed if not done in connivance with the electoral umpire and members of our security agencies.
“Yet, as I said, ndi banyi, do not be discouraged. If the past year has revealed anything, it is that the power truly resides with the people. The criminal activities of March 18 and the events that preceded it in the few weeks leading to the election were a testament to the fear instilled in the incumbent party by the people.
“We must not relent now. In fact, the journey has only just begun. We must keep engaging the system and these institutions. No matter how long it takes, we will take back our state.
“There are far too many people suffering, impoverished and bereft of hope for us who know what should be done to be quiet. For the children in Iva Valley, Ugwu Peak, Bunker and other slums, we must keep going. For the woman in Awgu who came to sell her wares in the market holding her two weeks’ old baby, we must keep going. For our aged parents who are owed their pensions and gratuities and for our young graduates who see no hope of a future in their homes, we will keep going.
“We must not lose faith in our democracy or in Enugu State. As individuals and collectively, we must keep pursuing our rights to choose our leaders, to good governance, and to experience the dividends of democracy. I have no problem losing an election to the will of the people. But when this will has been subverted, we have no choice but to review the entire process and the outcome.
“We will explore and exhaust every action required to ensure the legitimacy of the next government in Enugu State. You cannot hold accountable something that was acquired by illegitimate means.”
