Sandy Onor To Challenge Cross River Governorship Election In Court, Accuses APC of Manipulating Results, Vote-buying
Senator Sandy Onor, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Cross River State, says he will challenge the outcome of the March 18 governorship election result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in court.
INEC on Monday declared the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Prince Bassey Otu, as winner of th election.
Onor, in a press statement issued on Saturday, said that he would not allow the collective aspirations and interests of the people of Cross River to be subverted
The statement reads in part:
“About a week ago, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared my friend and brother, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the winner of the Saturday 18th March governorship election in Cross River State.
“The fundamental norm of every contest is that there must be a winner and a loser, but the contest must also be free, fair, and credible.
“We are all aware that the said election was marred by a plethora of irregularities. The Independent National Electoral Commission was neither independent nor impartial. INEC officials aided by security personnel manipulated the system, altered results at various collation levels, and frustrated the will of the majority of Cross Riverians. Indeed, the election of Saturday, 18th March, 2023, was characterised by outright vote-buying, intimidation of voters, and violence, which regrettably led to loss of lives. We assure you that the perpetrators of this crime shall be brought to justice, if not by man, by God.
“We have consulted with our legal and technical team as well as stakeholders to review the entire electoral process and have come to an inescapable conclusion that we must seek legal redress. This is tailored to meet the yearnings and aspirations of a vast majority of Cross Riverians. We are confident that we will get justice. We appeal to our teeming supportders across the length and breadth of our dear state to remain calm and put their trust in God, who ultimately gives power”.
