From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has identified its presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Enugu State governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, as the biggest casualties of the flawed electoral act.

He also appointed Edeoga into the party’s committee that would work for the reformation of the nation’s electoral act.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by LP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, yesterday.

According to Obiora, the Enugu State governorship candidate had paid a ‘Thank You’ visit to the national headquarters of the party where he gave account of how he contested but was allegedly rigged out in the March 18, 2023 election by the collusion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Enugu state government.

Edeoga who said he was yet to come to terms with the final judgment against him even with the obvious evidence that supported his victory, however, pleaded with the party to support electoral act reform.

“Electoral brigandage and vote rigging are the most dangerous things that can happen in a democracy. Because the people who vote are voting on the basis of their prayers, based on their frustrations, based on their expectations but as soon as they cast their votes, the votes disappeared. So, anything we can do to protect the sanctity of votes, we should do it. The votes means someone’s approval for a candidate. It is more than a physical act. It is not just a symbolic act, it has a spiritual dimension.

“After the Supreme Court judgement, many people have not come to terms with it. A lot of people are facing one illness or the other. The judgement threw Enugu into a mourning condition. I have not come to terms with it and I will never come to terms with it. But I have to come here to tell you that the ticket you gave me, I did not play with it, I did not trade with it, I did not bargain with it. I knew that my people entrusted their mandate to me but it was not my fault, I tried my best. I came to say thank you. I came to say, ‘I am here to send me to continue the work of national redemption,’” he said.