The ADC Local Government Chairmanship candidate for Isiala-Mbano in the 2024 Local Government election, Chief Collins Osuagwu has draged the Independent State Electoral Commission in Imo to Owerri Federal High Court, praying amongst other things for outright cancellation of the 2024 Local Government election in Imo.
Barrister Chima I. Onwukwe, the counsel to the African Democratic Congress ( ADC) Isiala -Mbano Chairmanship Candidate in the September 21st 2024 Imo state Local govt elections in Suit No. HOW / 1235/2024 before honourable Justice S. I. Opara last week adjourned the matter to 30th January 2025 after hearing submissions of plaintiff saddled with determinations of whether Chief Dr Collins Osuagwu ‘s human rights as a bonafide Citizen has being infringed with purported denial of political participation at the polls by Imo state Independent electoral Commission ( ISIEC) after successfully going through hurdles / electoral rules for Isiala -Mbano local government Chairmanship seat.
Addressing Journalists after the last Court sitting, the Lawyer to the plaintiff, averred that his Clients Dr. Osuagwu and Party are not asking for declaration as the winners but that the whole process was fraught with fraud and irregularities.
The fire brand legal practitioner described the ISIEC position on the last local government and Councilorship elections as a charade and true rape of democracy on Imo masses as electorates got denied of their rights to decide who should superintend over the Local government affairs .
Barrister Onwukwe affirmed that High Courts have absolute powers to determine when somebody’s Right is illegitimately abrogated,denied of him or in any way such a person treated unjustly .
The lawyer further said his client spent large sums of money to secure ADC ‘s endorsement only for the government through her agent , ISIEC to abandon the rules and guidelines for conduct of elections and declared those they wanted as winners.
The ADC legal representative maintained that ISIEC summer salted and abandoned the exercise as noticed on that fateful day . Chief Osuagwu therefore requested for compensation as damages up to #50 M from ISIEC and the Imo state government with a declaration that there were no elections that 21st September 2024.
Amongst the reliefs sought by Chief Dr Collins Chigozie Osuagwu through his counsel, are whether by Express provision of the guidelines for 2024 Local govt elections in Imo state, the Conduct of the said 2024 Local elections was not contrary to the Provisions of the said guidelines.
Whether the non – adherence of the guidelines for the conduct of 2024 Local govt elections in Imo state does not render the election invalid and tantamount to be cancelled in it’s entirety.
It’s also seeking to know whether by Receipt issued by ISIEC , Letter to ISIEC , Certificate of Return from ADC, Screened Clearance Certificate , Nomination Form / Expression of Interest form , if the Plaintiff has not fulfilled the conditions precedent to contest in the 2024 Local govt elections in Imo state conducted on 21st day of September 2024. Meanwhile palpable fears and tension are the challenge most council members are into now.