Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Enugu State elections, expressed his dissatisfaction with the court judgment, alleging a failure to address significant electoral irregularities.
During his visit to the national headquarters of the Labour Party in Abuja, Edeoga emphasized his refusal to accept the judgment, citing its inability to rectify the perceived injustice in the election.
Recounting his participation in the election, Edeoga voiced his disbelief in the final judgment, despite what he claims to be clear evidence supporting his case.
He urged the party to champion electoral reform while accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Enugu State government, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner, of colluding to rig the March 18th, 2023 election in their favor.
“Election malpractices and vote rigging pose the gravest threats to democracy. Voters express their prayers, frustrations, and expectations through their votes, but once cast, the votes mysteriously vanish,” explained Edeoga. He stressed the need to safeguard the sanctity of votes, describing them not just as a physical act but also having a spiritual dimension, representing someone’s approval for a candidate.
Edeoga expressed the profound impact of the Supreme Court’s judgment, noting that many people are still grappling with it, facing health issues and mourning the perceived loss. Despite his personal struggle to accept the verdict, he thanked the party for the trust placed in him and pledged to continue working towards national redemption.
In response, Labour Party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, identified Edeoga and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as the major casualties of the “flawed electoral act.” Abure appointed Edeoga to the party’s committee tasked with electoral act reform.
Edeoga emphasized the party’s commitment to pursuing electoral reforms in the wake of the alleged electoral fraud. He declared, “The Labour Party will not be a spectator; we will be the drivers of the process.” Acknowledging the party’s victimhood in the electoral process, Edeoga emphasized the need to actively participate in resolving the electoral crisis for the betterment of the party and Nigeria as a whole.
