The Labour Party in Imo has raised alarm over what they could describe as the frustration and denial by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have access to certified true copies of documents used for the state’s November 11 governorship election.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity, of the Athan Achonu Campaign Organization, Mr Chibuikem Diala, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Saturday. Diala said that the official request already made by the party’s solicitors to the INEC for the copies was duly acknowledged and received on November 15, and wondered why the release of the documents had been delayed. He urged the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to prevail on the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof. Sylvia Agu to release the documents, adding that “time is of the essence.
” He said: “INEC was so efficient to announce the results of 27 LGAs of Imo in less than 12 hours after the election; one wonders why the commission is taking over 144 hours to release the documents backing their pronouncements.” According to him, one would expect a better and more efficient approach from the electoral body. He said: “We sincerely hope that this delay is not a decoy by INEC in Imo and agents of the APC led government to tamper with sensitive materials in INEC’s possession.
”He called on security agencies to remain vigilant and do all they can to ensure that the certified true copies are released as requested and in good time. He, however, thanked LP supporters for their unalloyed steadfastness and assured them of the commitment of the party’s candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu to retrieving the mandate through due process.
