By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) domiciled in the South Eastern States have accused the judiciary of playing ignoble roles that have resulted in the lack of progress in the South East geo-political zone since the rebirth of the democracy in 1999.
The group made the accusation at a one-day symposium to mark the 10th anniversary of Southeast Democracy Clinic, a platform geared to help deepen democracy and ensure that its dividends gets to people of the region.
The group alleged that the judiciary has been in bed with “vagabonds of power ” in the zone who they claim, brazenly steal the mandate of the people and mock them with the usual refrain ‘Go To Court’, slogan.
They submitted that it was only the 2023 governorship election in Abia and the off-season governorship election in.Anambra State in 2022 that had a semblance of electoral credibility, and which outcomes represented the will of the people of the two states, alleging that the judiciary has not been fair in delivering justice to the people of Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States in successive elections.
Founder of Southeast Democracy Clinic and former Resident Electoral Commissioner,Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu queried what the Imo State Election Tribunal meant when it ruled in its recent judgement that the poll was in substantial compliance with enabling statutes when issues of widespread violence, thuggery, intimidation of voters, BVAS. Issues, vote buying, manipulation of results, snatching and or destruction of ballot boxes were rife.
Ononamadu, a lawyer alleged that there was widespread violence and intimidation, electoral malpractice, ballot box snatching, vote-buying, and manipulation of results were common during the elections.
“These practices undermined the integrity of the election process. Also Logistical Problems: Delays in the delivery of electoral materials and issues with the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) led to significant disruptions and confusion at many polling stations.
“Despite the presence of security forces, there were failures in effectively securing polling units and ensuring the safety of voters and election officials, ” he said.
Amid these and other plethora of complaints reported by election observers Ononamadu noted that the tribunal ruled that the poll was in substantial compliance with enabling laws.
Executive Director, Peoples Rights Organization,Dr Chris Nwadigo, noted that there is no law prohibiting the admission of report of election observers in evidence in court, and wondered why the nation’s courts have failed to leverage on reports of election observers to dispense justice.
In a communique issued at the end of the symposium the participants called on the judiciary to dispense electoral justice to save Nigeria’s democracy.