The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, was overrun by supporters of the Labour Party (LP) on Monday due to an alleged unwillingness to provide the party access to papers required for the governorship election scheduled for November 11.
According to reports, Senator Athan Achonu, the Libertarian Party candidate in the election, said that the Commission had denied him access to certified accurate copies of the voting materials.
LP state chairman Callistus Ihejiagwa claimed that party members were at the INEC headquarters to voice their disapproval of the Commission’s policies in the state while speaking with reporters during the demonstration.
In a wheelchair, the LP chairman addressed the press and stated, “INEC is frustrating us.” This Commission has continued to refuse our legal team’s access to certified genuine copies of the state’s papers used for the November 11 gubernatorial election, as required by law, nine days after our attorneys submitted an official request to the State INEC office.
We are quite frustrated with what is happening, which is why we have gone to INEC. Nine days ago, as INEC and state security agency chiefs watched, I was thrashed and tossed out of the hall like a regular criminal. We were made fun of and told to appear in court.
Nine days later they denied us entry. So why are they holding up the CTC of the requested materials’ release? Why is it that INEC is waiting more than 144 hours to release the paperwork supporting its declarations while it was so quick to announce the results of 27 LGAs in less than 12 hours following the elections?
Ihejiagwa continued, saying that his wife and kids were still recovering from the trauma they had witnessed on live television as All Progressives Congress thugs beat him up and threw him out of the collation center as security guards watched.
Addressing the demonstrators, Ben-Opara Emmanuella, the head of INEC’s Department of Voter Education and Publicity in Imo State, said that the LP application had been received by INEC. She gave her word that it was being taken care of.
“You have the right to request CTC,” she stated. As we speak, the ingredients are being assembled. We will provide you with the cost of payment tomorrow when we have finished pricing the material.
