Thirty five Civil Society Organizations Coalition have faulted the Abia state Council Election conducted on 2nd November 2024 with threat to take legal action against the state Independent Electoral Commission ( ABSIEC ), the state government and the Zenith Labour Party ( ZLP ),
After the election, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young Progressives Party ( YPP ) were declared the Chairmanship position winners in 15 and two ( 2 ) LGAs respectively.
Abia state comprises 17 LGAs and about twelve political parties were said to have presented candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship election.
The Coalition announced its decision on the election conduct and the litigation threat, while addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the state capital.
In the 5-page prepared address read out to journalists by their Leader, Mr Simon Diogu, the names of the 35 Coalition Members were therein stated.
They asserted that the conduct of the election did not comply with stipulated rules and guidelines in line with democratic principles and global best practices stating that ” complying with these rules and guidelines was the essence of accrediting civil society organizations to observe elections”.
The Coalition also stated some other reasons why it faulted the election, asserting that the election did not take place as scheduled in the entire state except in some stage – managed polling units.
” The exercise was marred by irregularities, intimidation/harassment of innocent voters by security outfits, non availability of election materials and personnel including allotment of votes to political parties that did not even participate in the election”.
According to them, Isiala Ngwa South LGA was the worst hit in the election malpractices and ” we have enough video evidence(s) to substantiate our claims that there was no election in the entire LGA”.
They also called for the cancellation of the election results particularly that of Isiala Ngwa South LGA and the intervention of president Ahmed Tinubu including the amendment of the relevant sections of the Nigeria Constitution by the national assembly.
The amended Constitution , according to the Coalition, should provide for the take over of the conduct of local government election in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).
