Senator Athan Achonu, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 Imo State governorship election, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of functioning as an extension of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday, Achonu reacted to the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Governor Hope Uzodinma’s victory in the election.
He expressed deep concerns about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, describing it as a “mere circus.”
“It has become painfully evident that the Independent National Electoral Commission has become another arm of the ruling party, the APC, turning our entire democratic institution into a mere circus,” Achonu stated.
He lamented the judiciary’s role in election matters, highlighting what he sees as a dangerous political culture introduced by the APC.
“The audacity of this practice, where the judiciary’s pronouncements outweigh the people’s votes, should alarm every patriotic Nigerian,” he said.
Achonu also criticized the APC’s approach to election disputes, claiming they manipulate results and dismiss the opposition by telling them to go to court, which he believes has rendered the judiciary unable to ensure INEC’s integrity.
Reacting to the allegations, INEC’s spokesperson in Imo State, MaryAnn Godslight, insisted on the commission’s independence, stating, “INEC is as independent as stipulated by the constitution of Nigeria. You cannot judge the commission by one man’s personal opinion.”
The Imo State APC Publicity Secretary, Cajethan Duke, dismissed Achonu’s claims as “laughable, ridiculous, and delusional,” arguing that INEC has earned the confidence of the international community in its efforts to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
