Silas Onu | Image: Nweze Anaga
.Vows to challenge Ebonyi South Senatorial bye-election result in law court
By Nweze Anaga,
Abakaliki
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate in the just concluded Ebonyi South senatorial bye-election, Mr. Silas Onu, has vowed to challenge the result of the poll in law court over alleged manipulation by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
Onu also said that with the alleged manipulation, INEC had become an extension of the APC in Ebonyi State.
The PDP chieftain disclosed this in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Also read: Ebonyi South bye-election: Opposition parties accuse APC of vote buying, intimidation
His words: “Saturday February 3, 2024 was a scheduled date for the bye-election to elect a new Senator for Ebonyi South Senatorial District. The build-up to this date was eventful and full of amazing experiences, especially with the visible show of love and acceptance for our great party and my candidacy – I am eternally grateful for these.
“In the build-up to the election, we also saw how institutions can become an obstacle to achieving the mandate given to them by law. We say this as a result of the shameful conduct of INEC, especially the Ebonyi State office that has literally become an extension of the APC in the state.
“When we held our congresses, we notified INEC as required by law and they deliberately and wilfully decided not to monitor our congresses for the election of delegates, citing factions within the PDP – one that only existed in the mind of the Resident Electoral Commissioner. We held our congresses and soon thereafter, the REC, working with some unknown elements who claimed to be “intending delegates”, instituted an action before the Federal High Court seeking the cancelation of our duly conducted Primary Election. This was certainly funded by the APC and with the complete collaboration of the Federal High Court Judge.”
He further stated that the REC, working with some unknown elements, who claimed to be “intending delegates”, instituted an action before the Federal High Court seeking the cancelation of their duly conducted Primary Election which was certainly funded by the APC and with the complete collaboration of the Federal High Court Judge.
“I must commend my co-candidates of APGA and Labour Party, Hon. Ifeanyi Eleje and Hon. Linus Okorie for their resilience and scoring legitimate votes just like me. If you put together our votes, there is no way that APC will win if the cancellations were allowed to be out of the figures calculated,” he said.
