A coalition of civil societies organisations (CSOs) yesterday decried alleged votes rigging and manipulation of results against women who vied for various elective seats in the recently held general elections.
Led by Comrade Retson Tedheke, the group at a press conference in Abuja remarked that it was unfortunate that Nigeria has taken the backseat in the push for affirmative action and inclusiveness of women in the governance of the country.
The group remarked that it behoves on well-meaning Nigerians to speak up for women candidates who were outrightly rigged out through votes suppression, intimidation of voters and obvious manipulation of elections in the recently held general elections.
The group was particularly piqued by the case of that of House of Representatives Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing the Isikwato/Umunneochi federal constituency who was allegedly a victim of vote rigging in the general elections.
It noted: ” It’s on record that Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha was the only APC stalwart in Abia State, who openly identified with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and stood on the podium to campaign along with him during the presidential across the region.
“While we don’t want to go to some of the issues she openly told Asiwaju during his campaign in the region, which eventually came to pass, we want to say that the party must stand up and reclaim all its stolen mandates in the country.
“While Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has so far approached the Court to reclaim to challenge what members of her constituency have termed robbery hatched against her, we maintain that the Leadership of the APC at all levels rise to the occasion to retrieve her mandate and that of many others who contested on the platform but were robbed of their mandates through widespread malpractices, vote suppression and falsification of results as witnessed in the South East.
“Let us be specific to describe the election of the Isiukwuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency as a sham and charade and if allowed to stand, would have thwarted the resolve of the majority of the people of the constituency and set a bad precedent for future elections.”
“We like to put it on record that the Labour Party (LP) candidate for Isiukwato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Amaobi Ogah, was not a bonafide member of LP at the time of the party primary, because he left the APC and joined the PDP on March 19, 2022. On June 4, 2022, he joined LP and contested the party primaries four days later, on June 8.
“By contesting the primary on June 8, it explains clearly that he was not a member of any political party according to the provisions of the law and Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).
“Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022, says “each party is required to maintain a membership register in hard and soft copy and to make the such register available to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not later than 30 days before the date fixed for primaries, congresses, and conventions.
“While this is not the only basis for which she is challenging the results of the Isiukwuato-Umunneochi Federal Constituency election of 25 February, we must also state it clear evidence electoral infractions have been compiled to validate our claims.”
Tedheke who is the Secretary, of the All progressives congress (APC) Directorates of Agro and Commodities applauded the recent steps taken by the leadership of the party during the Adamawa elections to protect the votes of the Adamawa governorship candidate Senator Aishatu Binani’s votes.
The group includes Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi Coalition for Good governance and Change Initiative, Omonu Gowom-Nelson Lead Director, Centre for Leadership Legacy International, and Hon Abdullahi Bilal National Coordinator, United Arewa Movement for Peace Good Governance.
