Supreme Court Verdicts: PDP Kicks, Demands Electoral Reforms

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP has condemned the decision of the Supreme Court to validate the outcomes of the two off- season gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Imo States held in 2023.

The All Progressive Congress, APC, won the two elections.

The Apex Court in in two separate judgements delivered on Friday, August 23, 2024, affirmed the results of the elections as earlier announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. It also affirmed the election of the PDP Governor of Bayelsa State.

But in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagbo, the PDP expressed dismay that the  Supreme Court  could affirm the outcomes of the elections, despite overwhelming evidence that they were mired by malpractices and manipulations

Besides, the PDP said that the two elections, were also characterized by high incidents of violence, over voting and manipulations by the ruling APC.

In the perpetration of the alleged electoral heists, some INEC officials, according to the PDP, made themselves willing tools.

The PDP is of the view that the alleged air of disappointment and disillusion which pervaded the two states on Friday, were clear testimonies that the majority of the people were not happy with the court’s rulings.

The Party further noted that the upholding of  the Governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states underscores a stark challenge created by the operation and violation of the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and Electoral Guidelines of the INEC.

“The general melancholic disposition in Imo and Kogi States at the news of the judgments validated the concerns and views of our party and majority of Nigerians that the results of the elections declared in the two states did not reflect the true aspirations of the people as expressed in their votes.

“The Judgement also underlines the clamour and demand by our Party and Nigerians for a comprehensive review of the Electoral Law, particularly with respect to the declaration of results of elections without due regard to issues and complaints arising from obvious violation of the provisions of the law and electoral processes.

“This, again, highlights the need to strengthen the electoral law and processes to ensure that elections are determined by votes cast, and not by violence and manipulations as were prevalent in the Imo and Kogi states governorship elections.” the PDP noted

The PDP has, therefore, demanded that, in future, candidates should not be declared winners, until all processes, including legal options are concluded.

However, the party noted that despite the obvious flaws inherent the  verdicts, as a law abiding entity,  it has accepted the Supreme court judgments.

The Source reports that in Imo State, the apex Court, while dismissing the two separate appeals filed by Senators Athan Achonu and Samuel Anyanwu of the Labour Party and PDP, respectively as lacking in merit, had  also resolved all issues raised in favour of Governor Hope Uzodima of the APC.

Similarly ,the Supreme Court, in validating the election  of Governor Usman Ododo, dismissed petitions filed by the PDP and Social Democratic party SDP candidates.

Instructively, the PDD did not condemn the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict where the election of PDP’s Governor Diri Douye was upheld.