Senator Athan Achonu, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 Imo State governorship election, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a press briefing held on Wednesday in Owerri, Achonu expressed his dissatisfaction with last week’s Supreme Court ruling, which upheld Governor Hope Uzodinma’s victory in the election.
Achonu described Nigeria’s democracy as “a mere circus” and claimed that INEC has effectively become an extension of the APC. “It has become painfully evident that the Independent National Electoral Commission has become another arm of the ruling party, turning our entire democratic institution into a mere circus,” Achonu said. He also criticized the judiciary, stating that its decisions appear to override the will of the people.
He further added, “The audacity of this practice, where the judiciary’s pronouncements outweigh the people’s votes, should alarm every patriotic Nigerian. It seems the opposition is always told to go to court, but in the end, the judiciary decides who wins, not the people.”
However, INEC’s spokesperson in Imo, MaryAnn Gods light, responded by refuting Achonu’s claims, insisting that INEC remains independent as mandated by the constitution. “INEC is as independent as stipulated by the constitution of Nigeria. You cannot judge the commission by one man’s personal opinion,” she said.
The APC’s Publicity Secretary in Imo, Cajethan Duke, dismissed Achonu’s claims as “laughable, ridiculous, and delusional,” stating that INEC has gained the confidence of international observers in their democratic efforts.
