CSOs ask INEC to issue certificate of return to Imo north senator-elect

A coalition of civil society organisations has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue certificate of return to Ben Uwajimogu, senator-elect in  Imo north.

In a statement signed by Johnson Omede and Danielson Momoh, the groups led by Conscience Nigeria and Stand-Up Nigeria, accused the commission of usurping the function of the judiciary.

The CSOs asked INEC to disband committees set up to look into the elections and leave the adjudication of electoral matters to the courts.

Nwajimogu, candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was declared winner by INEC in the rerun election, but has not been issued a certificate of return due to alleged electoral misconduct.

The committee set up by the commission to look into the allegation is to submit its report on Wednesday.

“The various outcomes of the 2019 elections have revealed a dangerous trend in which the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) has illegally expanded its reach and constituted itself as a threat to our democracy, appropriating the power of the judiciary unto itself. INEC is not a court of law,” the statement read.

“The case of Imo North Senatorial District, where  Senator Ben Uwajimogu was returned elected as a Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 9, 2019, in a supplementary election, but subsequently denied a certificate of return by the commission, has added to other acts of illegal and electoral meddlesomeness of INEC across the country.

“Unfortunately, while INEC is yet to issue the Senator-elect his certificate of return, other candidates and their political parties in the poll, have gone ahead to challenge his victory at the Tribunal, in what could qualify as a case of double electoral-jeopardy. Nobody should suffer this kind of electoral oppression in a democracy. It is unfair and unjust.

“Sadly, it is now difficult to understand INEC’s impartiality as an umpire that has no partisan attachment. There are allegations the commission has been compromised by different interests to act differently in different situations. Unfortunately, it is difficult for us in the civil society organisations to come to the aid of INEC over its failure to act in a fair manner.

“We advise INEC to immediately issue certificate of return to Senator Ben Uwajimogu who was duly returned elected by the people of Imo North to represent them in the 9th Senate.”