NDC contestant disputes outcome of Enugu North supplementary poll

Bishop Oscar Ossai, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, has dismissed the election's outcome, citing pervasive irregularities and electoral malpractices that marred the process.

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Ossai's statement, issued on Monday, condemned the June 20 by-election as lacking credibility and transparency, arguing that the results did not accurately reflect the genuine choice of voters in the senatorial district.

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According to Ossai, his position was informed by a thorough review of the election conduct by the party, its agents, supporters, and other stakeholders, which led the NDC to reject the result declared by the electoral authorities.

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The cleric-turned-politician asserted that the electoral process failed to meet the standards of credibility, transparency, and fairness expected in a democratic election, prompting his party's decision to dispute the outcome.

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Ossai alleged that the election was plagued by multiple infractions, including the non-deployment or non-use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System in some polling units and discrepancies between results announced at polling units and figures collated at higher levels.

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He also accused political actors of engaging in vote buying and voter inducement, while alleging incidents of voter intimidation, violence, and manipulation of electoral materials, which further undermined the election's integrity.

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The NDC candidate claimed that some ad hoc staff deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission were members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, compromising the neutrality and credibility of the electoral process.

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According to Ossai, the reported irregularities cast doubt on the integrity of the election and whether the final outcome truly reflected the wishes of the electorate, prompting the party to compile evidence for legal redress.

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The party has begun gathering evidence, including witness testimonies, polling unit records, video footage, and other materials, to pursue legal action, with Ossai stating that the legal team and party have commenced collating relevant information.

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Ossai expressed concern over reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence allegedly experienced by some voters, party agents, and supporters during the election, calling on security agencies to investigate and prosecute those found culpable.

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The NDC candidate urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, civil society organisations, election observers, and other stakeholders to conduct a thorough review of the electoral process to strengthen public confidence in future elections.

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Despite rejecting the election's outcome, Ossai appealed to his supporters and residents of the district to remain calm and law-abiding while exploring lawful channels, thanking voters for their support and reaffirming his commitment to democratic principles and electoral integrity.

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Ossai vowed to continue pursuing justice, fairness, and the advancement of his people through peaceful and lawful means, as the party seeks to address the election's irregularities.

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The Enugu North Senatorial District by-election was conducted on June 20 to fill the vacant seat in the National Assembly, with the exercise monitored by election observers and security agencies.