NEED FOR POLITICIANS SEEKING REDRESS IN THE ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH DECORUM

                 BY EWA  NWORIE

It is no longer news that the 2023 general elections in the country has come and gone. 

    What,perhaps,constitute news is that some candidates who lost in the general elections are now in tribunals to reclaim what they termed their stolen mandate,even though it was clear that,the electorates had spoken with their votes.

   Those that lost the election want the tribunal or court to upturn INEC results and declare them winners.

    However,to approach the court of competent jurisdiction or electoral tribunal over allege ringing of elections is not strange in democracy even in the civilized world,but,it is pertinent to call on the politicians seeking redress to conduct themselves with utmost decorum or exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship by coming out to congratulate their winners. 

    This,indeed is the unique feature and beauty of democracy.

    However,what is most important to note is that in every contest,there must be winners and losers.

   In the just concluded elections,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All progressive Congress(APC),emerged victorious  as the next president of Nigeria,come,May 2023.

While,winners of governorship and other politial positions across the country,also emerged as declared by INEC. They have since been issued with certificates of return.

   In Ebonyi state,for instance,chief Ogbonna Nwifuru of APC emerged victorious after defeating his  rilvaries with wide margin,although,like other states of the federation,some results,not of Ebonyi governorship,were declared inconclusive which brought about the supplementary elections conducted by INEC on 15th April,2023.

   Of course,electoral offences would have not prevented INEC from announcing the overal results collated,since the offenders should by the law and electoral Act,be handled by the police.

  It is obvious that,there is no part of the world,elections will be adjudged perfect,morealso in the third world countries,like,Nigeria.

    The truth is that what happened during the 2023 general elections are not strange in democracy,hence,losers should not be so desperate over their political ambitions because in every contest,there must be winners and losers.

   Quite agreed that there were reports of alleged cases of electoral malpractices,violence,killings and distruction of electoral materials in some part of the country during the concluded general elections,the electoral umpire in line with the electoral Act of 2022,has done the needful by conducting supplementary elections nationwide which the overal result has since been declared by INEC.

    Therefore,what should be uppermost in the minds of patriotic Nigerians now is good governance,and not litigations,which at long run may become waste of resources that may not yield litigants desires.

    In Ebonyi state,the governor elect,chief Ogbonna Nwifuru has promised to run all inclusive government,and have vowed to bring his leadership ingenuity to bear by transforming the state to an enviable status.

    It is very heartwarming to commend the senator,representing Ebonyi North senatorial zone,senator Sam Egwu of PDP,for his maturity in withdrawing his case from the tribunal,against chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi,the senator elect for Ebonyi North zone who contested and won on the platform of APC.

   Senator Egwu has taken his second tenure as senator,representing the zone,hence,he later had a rethink to accept electorial defeat by chief Onyekachi Nwenonyi,and withdrawing his case.

  This is highly commendable.

    Other candidates in the election should also show the spirit of sportsmanship and join hands to move the state forward by toeing the part,senator Egwu has taken.

   The development of Ebonyi state should be uppermost in the minds of all rather than retrogressive court cases.