Imo: LP supporters storm INEC office over denial of access to election materials

By Musa Baba Adamu

Supporters of the Labour Party (LP), yesterday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, Imo State capital, over alleged refusal to grant the party access to documents used for the November 11 governorship poll.

The LP candidate in the election, Senator Athan Achonu, had alleged that the Commission has refused to grant him access to certified true copies of the election materials.

Speaking with newsmen during the protest, LP state chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, said the party supporters were at the INEC office to protest against the attitude of the Commission in the state.

The LP chairman, who addressed the journalists in a wheelchair, said, “INEC is frustrating us. Nine days after an official request was made by our solicitors to the State INEC office, this Commission has continued to deny our legal team access to certified true copies of documents used for the November 11 governorship election in the state as required by law.

“We have come to INEC to express our deep frustration at what is going on. Nine days ago I was beaten up and thrown out of the hall like a common criminal while INEC and heads of security agencies in the state looked on. We were mocked and asked to go to court.

“Nine days after they have refused us access. Why then are they delaying the release of the CTC of requested materials? INEC was so efficient in announcing the results of 27 LGAs in less than 12 hours after the elections, why then is it taking the same INEC over 144 hours to issue the documents backing their pronouncements?”

Ihejiagwa added that his wife and children were yet to recover from the trauma of watching him on live television, beaten up and thrown out of the collation centre by All Progressives Congress thugs during the collation of election results, while security agents looked on.

Ben-Opara Emmanuella, Head of the Department of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Imo State, while addressing the protesters, said INEC had received the LP application. She assured that it was being attended to.

She said, “It’s your right to request for CTC. The materials are being assembled as we speak. We are already costing the material and by tomorrow we’ll give you the cost of payment.