CLO BEGS INEC TO SAVE ENUGU FROM A NEEDLESS CATASTROPHE.

The CLO said incontrovertible evidence from the outcome of the polls had shown that the majority of people of Enugu State spoke in loud voices with their votes on whom they want to represent them in government starting from the Presidential/ National Assembly polls till last Saturday when they re-echoed their stance once more by ensuring that Labour Party maintained the majority in House of Assembly and in various local government results for the governorship elections.

Aloysius Attah, Chairman of CLO Southeast Zone, made the request in a statement issued in Enugu.

Attah expressed dismay that INEC's State Returning Officer, Resident Electoral Commissioner, and other commission actors are under pressure to frustrate the people's will.

According to the CLO, incontrovertible evidence from poll results showed that the majority of people in Enugu State spoke loudly with their votes on who they want to represent them in government beginning with the Presidential/National Assembly polls until last Saturday when they re-echoed their stance once more by ensuring that the Labour Party maintained the majority in the House of Assembly and in various local government results for the governorship elections.

The organization urged INEC to reject any form of pressure or enticement in accepting the clearly defective results obtained from Nkanu East local government area in order to save the commission and its operatives from public odium and embarrassment, which might literally set Enugu State on fire.

The statement read, "Tension is building up already across different parts of the state by the restive youths who are not taking chances these days in allowing their mandate to be stolen by any political actor or parties. The desperation to take power by hook or crook being exhibited by some forces leaves much to be desired, while those who read the signs of the present times don't need any prophet or seer to tell them that things have changed.

"It is our unshaken position that input legitimacy should not be toyed with at any time in the democratic process as the process through which a public official emerges into public office is very much vital as to also what the public person does in office after getting power.

"Subverting the peoples' will in a brazen manner and resorting to the provocative slogan "If not satisfied, go to court" will not be accepted anymore in Enugu State and henceforth in the entire Southeast region. The people deserve the kind of a leader they gave their consent to through the democratic process of voting, and no more shall they be deprived of this their guaranteed democratic rights.

"To do the contrary poses a serious danger to the society, and we implore INEC and other desperate politicians to avoid setting Enugu state on fire by their actions or inactions. Let the outcome of the final result be a reflection of the wish of the electorates who braved all odds to come out and exercise their franchise."