…Petitions NDC Election Appeal Panel
Aspirant for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu (Ugonecheora) says no real primary election took place in the constituency on the 29th of May, and has asked the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Election Appeal Panel not to declare a winner, and to immediately investigate the roles played by opposing candidates and their supporters in disrupting the process.
Ikoku appealed to the leadership of the party to urgently look into the supposed primary that was held on May 29. “I respectfully call on the Election Panel to immediately investigate the roles played by unruly candidates, their agents, and supporters in the disruption of the process. I further urge the panel to take disciplinary action against any individual found culpable in sponsoring violence, intimidation, or acts capable of undermining the party’s democratic process.
She also wants the party to investigate the actions of individuals she fingered led to the disruption of the planned primaries “I also call for a thorough investigation into the role played by individuals and officials saddled with the responsibility of organizing and coordinating the election, whose apparent failure, negligence, or inability to properly manage the process significantly contributed to the confusion, disorder, and eventual collapse of the exercise.
“I demand that the failed exercise be declared inconclusive. Mr. Eric Anyamene should not be declared winner. Hon. Uche Okonkwo should also not be declared winner.
According to her, “It will be a fraudulent choice if the NDC names either Mr. Anyamene or Hon. Okonkwo as winner for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency because the party would have chosen them through brazen criminal acts contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience. No direct primary election took place in Idemili North and South Federal Constituency to enable members to choose their representative by popular votes.”
Background
From the onset, there was widespread confusion over the designated venue for Idemili South, which was a deliberate act of sabotage. Party members, delegates, and supporters were subjected to conflicting information, leaving many uncertain about where the election was to take place. When the designated venue was located, the absence of proper coordination, accreditation, and supervision compounded the disorder, preventing the exercise from taking place.
The situation deteriorated when rival supporters and suspected thugs loyal to both Hon. Okonkwo and Mr. Anyamene engaged in violent activities, creating panic, and forcing many party members to flee for their safety. Specifically, Mr. Anyamene’s unruly supporters recorded a video of random voters in the South while chanting “Eric is winning, Eric is winning,” and there was no election going on. His thugs clashed with other thugs, resulting in an atmosphere of intimidation and insecurity, which rendered the environment in Idemili South unsuitable for the conduct of a free, fair, and credible election.
Dr. Ikokwu’s supporters who had waited from as early as 10:00 a.m., were unable to cast their votes before the exercise collapsed around 1.30pm. In the North, the story was the same. Mr. Anyamene dominated with hired goons that caused mayhem at the election ground. Dr. Ikokwu’s poster was torn to pieces by Anyamene’s thugs over there.
