For allegedly falsifying the BVAS report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, more than 30 civil society organisations and human rights groups have demanded the arrest and prosecution of David Umahi, the senator who represents Ebonyi South Zone and the recently-resigned governor of Ebonyi State.
Standing up from their press conference on Friday in Abuja, the CSOs bemoaned the development as a warning that the nation’s democracy and rule of law were under jeopardy, and they urged the appropriate agencies to look into the situation and bring those responsible to justice.
Recall that Hon. Linus Okorie, a two-term member of the House of Representatives who represented the Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency and ran as the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate in the February 25 national elections, went before the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal to ask to be declared the legitimate winner after receiving the most valid votes.
He further claims that Umahi was not nominated in a legitimate primary of a recognised Nigerian political party.
In the same petitions before tribunals across the nation, it was learned that there are claims of contradictory Certified True Copies of electoral records, particularly BVAS reports, issued by INEC to opposing parties.
The coalition of CSOs includes the Compressed Accountability Lab in Nigeria, the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, the Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress, the BudgIT Foundation, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, the HEDA Resource Centre, the State of the Union, the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, and Transition Monitorin. Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, is
“Case in point is the Ebonyi State National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal,” they claim, “where the immediately preceding governor of Ebonyi State/Senator for Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Engr David Nweze Umahi, has been accused of presenting a forged CTC of the BVAS Accreditation Report and Compliance Certificate to the Tribunal in defence of cases challenging his election.”
Linus Okorie, a member of the Labour Party, filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) accusing Umahi of obtaining the aforementioned BVAS Report and Certificate of Compliance from the INEC Headquarters’ ICT Department. The CTC Report and Compliance Certificate, however, were rejected by the Secretary to the Commission as not AUTHENTIC, or not from the Commission, in a letter that was submitted to the petition.
“There is suspicion that a cartel may be functioning within INEC Headquarters and collaborating with desperate politicians to produce forged or phoney Commission documents, like in this case, with the intention of skewing the results of ongoing electoral tribunals throughout the nation.
“The implications of such a criminal conspiracy are grave for the fairness of any final judicial rulings and for the broader growth of a credible election system in the nation. We demand that the police conduct a quick, thorough investigation of the petition stated in order to identify any cartel operating inside INEC that is committing criminal document manipulation and to ensure that those implicated in the crime are brought to justice.
“All of these have damaged citizens’ faith in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ability, independence, and willingness to hold free, credible elections. This is a significant barrier to the development of our democracy.
After learning that his main opponent, Engr. Umahi, was presenting the CTC of the BVAS report on the election before the tribunal, Okorie wrote to INEC to get confirmation. In response, the electoral umpire certified that while he had the genuine CTC, Umahi’s did not.
“Your letter dated May 18, 2023, on the foregoing subject matter references,” was how the INEC letter had been written.
“The Commission wishes to certify that the BVAS Report attached to your letter as Annexure “A” is genuine.””Our Client is embarrassed that two diametrically different Certified True Copies (CTC) of the same document are coming from your Commission, although signed by two different persons at different times,” the letter from the LP Senatorial Candidate to INEC, dated May 18, 2023, and signed by Alex Akoja, Esq., his Solicitors’ Lead Counsel, had partially stated. First in time and labelled Annexure “A,” this one is provided to our Client.
“Our Client has directed us to write you on the understanding that you will use your good offices to cause an investigation into this matter and to affirm to us which of the two Certified True Copies is legitimate,” the letter reads.
It was unsuccessful to get in touch with the former governor for a response to the predicament. As of the time of reporting this article on Friday night, he has not answered any calls or texted messages.
