An elder statesman from Imo state, Prince Bob Njemanze, has given kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for infusing discipline in the political system by checking the excesses of some politicians who want power at all costs .
Njemanze, in an interview with Blueprint in Abuja on Sunday, hailed the electoral body for refusing to yield to Okorocha and other politicians’ alleged crime of receiving certificate of returns by false pretences after making the returning officers to declare them winner under duress in the last elections.
According to the elder statesman, that singular effort by INEC would no doubt reduce impunity and intimidation by Nigerian politicians in subsequent elections.
He, however, urged INEC to go ahead and return the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate as senator-elect for Imo West senatorial district , as well as uphold the declaration of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidate, Sen Ben Uwajumogu as the duly returned senator elect for Imo north.
“I commend the two returning officers for Imo West and Imo North for not caving in two undue influence and intimidation. If our elections must be free and fair there will be need to check certain excesses .
“There was nothing like very credible election in Imo due to undue deployment of state resources. It would therefore be unfortunate if the few who emerged by providence are further subjected to harrowing experiences in claiming their mandates.
“The outgoing Governor is deploying all sorts of gimmicks, coercion of traditional rulers reaching to various security agencies with unsolicited gifts singing songs of praise for President Muhammadu Buhari yet has no faith in his party.
“The idea of the Senate chamber being a safe Harlem for criminals rather than hallowed must not be encouraged.”
Prince Njemanze who was a delegate at the 2014 national conference alleged that the faceoff between the APC national chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Okorocha was triggered when the Imo state Governor accused and reported the APC national chairman to the DSS for alleged embezzlement of party funds.
He added that Oshiomhole had proved his innocence to the DSS that the money was lodged in the party account and used to run the party.
Piqued by Okorocha’s alleged blackmail, Oshiomhole was said to have sworn not to allow Okorocha to return to be elected as Senator using the APC platform.
