From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The much awaited Imo State governorship election which held on Saturday, November 11, 2023 is now history. It was one exercise that the people of Imo waited with bated breath. The election lived up to its billing as it was heavily marred by voters apathy, violence, ballot box snatching, massive rigging, intimidation by security agents,§ disenfranchisement of the people and militarization of the election environment. For those who monitored the poll, such Shenanigans have now become a permanent feature of elections in the state, nay the entire country since 1999.
On the morning of the election, the entire state was literally under siege as major streets and junctions in the Owerri capital metropolis was barricaded by armed policemen including the military who were deployed to the state in their thousands for “election duty”. Actually, a total of 25, 655 policemen were deployed to Imo State with 10 Police Commissioners, 3 Assistant Inspectors- General of Police and a Deputy Inspector -General of Police in the person of Frank Mba, as the overall supervisor for the election duty. This excludes the over 2,000 military personnel and other security agencies.
There was a strict restriction of both vehicular and other movements as even those going on foot were stopped and quizzed by the security agents to explain why they are on the streets on an election day. In fact, even vehicles with the “ Election Duty” Stickers were stopped and the occupants thoroughly scrutinised by the stone-faced looking military men who were stationed at every junction.
However, if Imo people had hoped for a free, fair, transparent and violence-free poll, that hope was indeed misplaced. Despite assurances from the Independent National Electoral commission chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, that voters accreditation will be done with the BVAS, the reverse was the case.
To the disappointment of many observers, the BVAS machines were not used for accreditation of voters in majority of the polling units and where it was available, the officials complained that it was either slow or malfunctioning.
It was also observed that in several voting centres , officials of the electoral body refused to upload results into the IREV at the polling units, as some of them complained either that there was no network or that the machines were slow.
This resulted in some of the voters leaving for their homes . One of the voters at PU 012 in Ugiri ward in Isiala Mbano, said, “ I don’t want to waste my time, after all, the result of this election has been written already.”
The election was replete with several instances of hijacking or diversion of electoral materials. For instance, electoral materials meant for seven wards in Orsu and Orlu were allegedly hijacked with the help of the police and taken to the palace of a prominent traditional ruler in Amaifeke community in Orlu.
It was the same story in Okigwe local council with allegations that all the election materials at the stadium were moved to the local government secretariat where no other party agents were allowed in excep the APC.
Also, there were allegations that 7 polling booths in Imoko ward,
8 in Izuoga ward 2, 24 in Iheme ward all in Ideato North were reportedly diverted to a private residence somewhere in Akokwa where the results for the polling units were compromised.
Daily Sun which monitored the event observed similar scenarios in the 4 Wards in Arondizuogu clan in Ideato North as voting materials were taken to the APC chieftain’s house and were given cover by the security agents including the Civil Defense, Army and police personnel who used 10 Hilux vans to block the roads.
At various wards and polling units, in Nkwerre council, the leaders of the ruling party reportedly went about with thugs attacking agents and supporters of the opposition parties, especially the PDP.
The situation created a tense atmosphere leading to a very low turnout of voters. According to INEC sources and independent observers, only 4 percent voter braved the odds to come out as others decided to remain in the safety of their homes.
It was the same in the Ngor Okpala council where the Sole Administrator went about with armed policemen and military officers were seen harassing and intimidating voters.
In Ikeduru LG, some agents of the PDP were shot and one of their vehicles burnt in Inyishi while they were trying to resist the thuggery.
In Umuokoro Village hall, Iho, Ikeduru LGA, an eye witness who spoke on condition of anonymity said that ballot papers were destroyed, with thugs snatching ballot boxes.
Daily Sun observed that in wards 003 and 004 , Chief Obi Primary School, Emekuku, Owerri North LGA, party agents indulged in vote buying and coercion of voters.
At the state collation centre at the INEC headquarters in Owerri , the state chairman of the Labour Party and the party’s agent was beaten to stupor by thugs allegedly brought in by the ruling party’s agent in full glare of the heads of security agents.
The Labour party Chairman had insisted for the review of results before collation but the state Returning Officer, Prof Abayomi Fasina had bluntly told him that his duty is to collate and announce the results of the governorship election.
He said, “I had earlier told the National commissioner for South East, Ken Ukaogu that our party has a petition but he too was not interested in addressing the issues we have raised before the commencement of the collation of results. So, there was a conspiracy against the Labour Party. I had insisted that we should be heard but the Returning Officer, Prof Abayomi Fasina said he is not here to entertain petitions and that we should go to Court.
“But, when I continued to raise the issue, the state agent of the APC warned me that enough is enough, and , then went outside and came back. Shortly after, six fierce looking men walked into the collation centre and attacked me in full glare of the security chiefs, and started beating me and, all the security chiefs simply watched. I was dragged out by the thugs where they continued beating me; not even the over 50 policemen including the military and DSS came to my rescue. My offense was that I had the temerity to insist the right thing should be done. I was promptly arrested and taken to the state CID where I was detained like a common criminal. “
Worried by the out come of the governorship poll, one of the Election Observers, the Yiaga Africa’s Watching The Vote ( WTV) has said that no voting took place in 12 percent of their sampled polling units across the state.
The civil society group noted that these cases were prevalent in Orsu, Okigwe, Orlu and Oru East and Oru West and Owerri West government councils.
In a statement, Dr Hussiani Abdu, Chair, Yiaga Africa’s Watching the Vote, said that their observers reported that no voting took place in 12 percent of sampled polling units across the state. Dr Abdu expressed concern with the upload of results in form EC8A for some of the sampled polling units where elections did not take place like in Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ikeduru and Okigwe LGs on IREV.
Also, Dr Nnaemeka Obiaereri, a Developmental Economist and Businessman who is from Okigwe local government dismissed the Imo governorship election held on Saturday as a ‘ brazen roguery’ especially when it was announced that Okigwe council produced the highest votes of 55,000 for the first time in the history of the state.
He noted that majority of the votes had come from Ihube, Aku, Umuawa, Ibinta, Umulolo and other places which are bandits-infested wards long abandoned by the state government. He also wondered how those areas could have produced such high numbers of votes even when no single official of the Independent National Electoral Commission showed up.
“ Imagine Okigwe of all places. Okigwe that most of her communities are deserted; Okigwe that had no elections because the materials were all diverted. This is how low we have sank “, he lamented.
Similarly, National Vice Chairman of South East, African Democratic Congress, Chilos Godsent said the party condemns in strong terms the partisanship role of INEC and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the shameless exercise called election conducted in Imo.
He said, “ADC having keenly monitored the just concluded Imo State Governorship Election of Saturday, 11th November 2023 which was characterized by electoral violence, banditry, snatching of Electoral Materials, intimidations and harassment of political opponents by APC supporters and thugs, ADC South East Zone hereby condemn in its totality the results of shameful exercise called Election.”
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri , His Grace, Most Revd Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji who was himself dismayed by the conduct of the Imo governorship election, simply said, “ police, army, State Security Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security outfits, came into the state in their numbers. Helicopters kept keeping surveillance from the air.
“They were supposed to ensure that there was no violence in the state. This gave us a measure of hope, which sadly failed again. If the commentaries that followed the poll, is anything to be reckoned with, then, we have not learnt anything in Nigeria.
“Voting during all elections, remains a civic responsibility. People should be allowed to vote freely, without intimidation, coercion, killing or maiming.
“We have had this democratic engineering for 25 years but what have we achieved? We should be free to determine who should rule or represent us at whatever level.”
A public Affairs Analyst, Prince Ifeanyichukwu Mbaram noted that the Imo governorship election held on Saturday November 11 was nothing but a sham and that the Independent National Electoral commission has again shown itself as an interested party.
He further noted that impunity and lawlessness has become an entrenched culture in the conduct of elections which if not uprooted immediately will create the false impression that you can kill and maim so long as you get into an office.
“ What I witnessed last Saturday is not but a sham and the Independent National Electoral Commission has also shown that they are not neutral in the conduct of the elections”, he said.
However, for the newly re-elected governor, Senator Uzodimma, the victory was a confirmation of the confidence of Imo people in his administration which he said was determined to better their lives.
In his acceptance speech, he vowed to consolidate on his achievements in the last four years.
“Of course, I can never thank God enough for doing it again for me. He has shown that He did it four years ago, and has done it again, to His honour and glory. So, I dedicate this victory to God and the good people of Imo State. I must confess that I am truly humbled and deeply appreciative of every single vote I received across the 27 local government areas in the state. They all contributed to giving me a clear, historic and unprecedented victory over my opponents”, he said.
Governor Uzodimma extended an Olive branch to his fellow contestants and urged them to join him to build a better state. He also affirmed that the series of endorsement by so many stakeholders in the state was a clear manifestation of the results of the election.
“You have made me proud indeed. It is now my turn to keep my own side of the bargain. On that note, I wish to repeat my earlier covenant with God and Imo people. I will not let Imo people down and I will serve with utmost honesty and the fear of God.
“Let me be clear. Your message to me through overwhelming endorsement, is that you appreciate what I have done in office so far, and you want me to do even more. I heard you loud and clear. It is an invitation to do more and do better, and that is exactly what I will do.