The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has tasked INEC to immediately resolve the “logjam” encountered in Enugu’s March 18 governorship election.

INEC, on Monday, suspended the collation of results and announcement of the winner of the elections following contention in the results of Nkanu East and Nsukka council areas of the state at the poll.

The chairman of CLO South-East zone, Aloysius Attah, told journalists in Enugu on Monday that INEC must act fast and save Enugu from an avoidable crisis.

Mr Attah cautioned INEC’s state returning officer, resident electoral commissioner and other actors in the commission not to be pressured to thwart the people’s will.

According to him, tension is already building up across different parts of the state by restive youths who are not taking chances these days in allowing their mandate to be stolen by any political actor or party.

“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 do not need any prophet or seer to tell them that things have changed,” the CLO official explained.

Mr Attah added, “It is our unshaken position that input legitimacy should not be toyed with at any time in the democratic process because the process through which a public official emerges into public office is very much vital and also what the public person does in office after getting power.”

He noted that subverting the people’s will “in a brazen manner” and resorting to the provocative slogan “if not satisfied, go to court” will not be accepted anymore in Enugu and the entire South-East.

The CLO chair pointed out that the people deserved the kind of a leader they consented 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 desperate politicians to avoid setting Enugu state on fire by their actions or inactions,” Mr Attah stated, “Let the outcome of the final result be a reflection of the wish of the electorate who braved all odds to come out and exercise their franchise.”

(NAN)