Supporters of the Labour Party, LP, took to the streets in Owerri, Imo State’s capital, on Monday. They were protesting the alleged denial of access to election documents used in the November 11 governorship poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to reports, Senator Athan Achonu, the LP candidate in the election, claimed that the Commission had refused to grant the party access to certified true copies of the election materials.
During the protest, LP state chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, expressed the party supporters’ frustration with INEC’s conduct in the state. Ihejiagwa, who addressed the journalists from a wheelchair, stated, “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.”
He continued, “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.”
Emphasizing the delay in accessing the documents, he added, “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 also revealed the personal impact of the incident, stating that his wife and children were still traumatized from witnessing him being beaten up and thrown out of the collation centre on live television during the election result collation, while security agents looked on.
Responding to the protesters, Ben-Opara Emmanuella, Head of the Department of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Imo State, acknowledged the LP’s application and reassured them that it was being processed. She stated, “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.”
