Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s victory in the just concluded governorship election may be short-lived as the candidate of the Hope Democratic Party, HDP, in the state; Munonye Ikechukwu Obi has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the cancellation of the election over unlawful exclusion of his party logo on the ballot.
Briefing newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, Administrative Secretary of the party in the state, Chukwuemeka Anucha stated that the party’s governorship candidate, Munonye Ikechukwu Obi had briefed his team of lawyers to storm the Election Petition Tribunal if INEC fails to heed to the demand of the party.
Loading ...According to him, “We wish to wish to draw the attention of relevant authorities especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the omission of the logo of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in the ballot paper during the just concluded governorship election in Imo state.
“Our party, HDP, has in conformity with the constitution, Electoral Act and INEC guidelines validly nominated Mr. Munonye Ikechukwu Obi as our governorship candidate for Imo state. He fulfilled all INEC requirements expected of a governorship candidate. INEC on the other hand acknowledged all the correspondences HDP regarding the nomination of Mr. Munonye Ikechukwu Obi.
“Mr. Munonye Ikechukwu Obi campaigned across the 27 local government areas of the state adopting ‘Family to Family’ strategy soliciting for votes from the electorate. His message to the people was unambiguously clear. To perfect the free education policy, give bursaries to Imo students in other tertiary institutions, construct quality roads, deliver quality and affordable healthcare services, build people-oriented infrastructural facilities and restore decency in governance by abiding to the rule of law and due process. Fortunately for us, Imo people showed unflinching support and were ready to cast their votes for our candidate at least to secure a better Imo of our collective dream and aspiration. But this hope was devastatingly dashed with the omission of the HDP logo on April 11 governorship election and April 25 rerun election by INEC.
HDP said it demands the immediate cancellation of the governorship election in the state because in the eyes of the law, it is assumed that no election ever took place.
“The present governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha would not have been re-elected if our party’s logo had appeared in the ballot paper. This is because Imo people were ready to vote HDP into power. Our candidate, Munonye Ikechukwu Obi has briefed his lawyers to storm the tribunal if INEC fails to act on its demand to cancel the Imo governorship election.
“The law is very clear about unlawful exclusion of party logos from the ballot.
