His condemnation came a day after Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, cried out over alleged attempts by some henchmen of the President’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the ballot presumably won by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the party in power in the state. As reported this morning by News Express, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the ballot inconclusive with the APGA candidate, Hon. Walter Uzonwanne, leading with 9,595 votes from 121 polling booths out of 129 in Oguta state constituency while the PDP candidate, Chief Eugene Dibiagwu, polled 7,7584votes.
Commenting on the issue for the first time, Jonathan said today in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, that the conduct of certain persons and groups involved in the election totally negated the spirit of one man, one vote which his administration is trying to foster in Nigeria.
Speaking at an audience with a delegation from the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, President Jonathan urged INEC and the nation’s security agencies to take immediate steps to bring all those who played any role in the violence and electoral irregularities that marred the election to justice.
The President, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that it had become apparent that in order to successfully achieve his administration’s objective of entrenching a culture of consistently free, fair and credible elections in the country, it must be made clear to all stakeholders that any unlawful conduct during elections will be swiftly punished.
“Those who made it impossible for the rerun election in Oguta to be conclusive must be brought to book,” he said. “We must make it clear that impunity in the perpetration of violence and irregularities during elections will no longer be tolerated. Sanctions, promptly imposed on guilty persons, will deter others from engaging in such acts in future,” the Nigerian leader added.
Welcoming the Senators’ Forum’s pledge of support for his administration’s efforts to thoroughly sanitise Nigeria’s electoral system, President Jonathan said that he was glad that his advocacy for one man, one vote was winning more adherents across the country.
He said that the Federal Government under his leadership will work with other like-minded Nigerians and the forum, which has a membership of over 500 serving and former senators, to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and deliver more dividends of democracy to ordinary Nigerians.
“There must be even greater harmony between the executive and legislative arms of government. We must work together to ensure that all Nigerians benefit more from our political activities,” Jonathan told the delegation led by Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq Gwadabe.
Senator Gwadabe had earlier told President Jonathan that the Senators’ Forum which was established in 2003, was committed to supporting his efforts to strengthen institutions of democracy in Nigeria.
She praised the President’s commitment to maintaining cordial and harmonious relations with the National Assembly as well as his respect for the rule of law.
The delegation included Senators Abubakar Girei, Iyabo Anisulowo, Alex Kadiri, John Danboyi, Victor Oyofo, Emmanuel Ibok Essien, Haruna Abdulazeez and Sunday Fajimi, Sylvannus Ngele, Bala Adamu, Zeog H. Aziz and Omololu Meroyi.
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