TheCable

The south-east chapter of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) says the “flawed” electoral process in 2019 led to the supreme court judgement which removed Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo state.

In a statement on Thursday, Laz Eze, ANN vice-chairman (south-east), said the judgment did not reflect the wish of the people of the state.

Ihedioha, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had been declared winner of the Imo governorship election, but the supreme court sacked him and affirmed Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the authentic winner.

Eze said having participated in the 2019 elections, ANN observed the polls were a step back from those conducted in previous years.

“We campaigned across states in the South East and we believe that the decision of Supreme Court does not reflect the wishes of the majority of voters in Imo State,” the statement read.

“The conduct of the 2019 general election was below acceptable standards as the wealthier political parties and candidates competed in electoral malfeasance with some INEC officials and security agents as collaborators.

“It was obvious to Nigerians that the improvement in the electoral process observed during the 2011 and 2015 elections were eroded in the 2019 elections.”

Eze called for electoral reforms, adding that continuation of “flawed” elections in the country shall lead to “more violence and catastrophic judicial pronouncements.”

He also urged takeholders in the south-east to mobilise citizens’ action in favour of credible elections beginning from the governorship poll in Anambra in 2021.