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Collapsible Cubicles: Labour Party Raises Alarm, Accuses INEC Of Compromise

Barely few days to the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Nigeria, leadership of Labour Party (LP), Isoko South local government chapter of Delta state has raised alarm and pointing accusing fingers of compromise at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Isoko South council area.

Barely few days to the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Nigeria, leadership of Labour Party (LP), Isoko South local government chapter of Delta state has raised alarm and pointing accusing fingers of compromise at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Isoko South council area.

The party raised the alarm following what it called deliberate refusal of INEC in the area to use the approved voting collapsible cubicles for the purpose they were meant for.

In a eight points strong worded petition addressed to the commission’s chairman, with the heading “Deliberate refusal of INEC in Oleh, Isoko South L.G.A, Delta state to Use Approved Voting cubicles So As to Aide Rigging.” signed by Mr. Lucky Akakasi, Chairman, Isoko South Labour Party, Mr. Abrudhakpo Ogoro, Secretary, Isoko South constituency 11 of LP and Mr. Iruo-Oghene Ode, Secretary, Isoko South constituency 1 of LP noted that “We have observed with dismay that during the National Assembly and Presidential elections, the INEC in Oleh has refused to release the collapsible cubicles for every polling unit to facilitate secret voting as directed and is been done in every unit national wide. We have since discovered that this is a compromise by INEC officers which facilitate planted PDP agents to identify every voter’s choice of thumb printing who are then paid instantly.”

According to the petition which was copied to the state INEC, REC, Asaba, Commissioner of Police, Director SSS, EO, Oleh, DPO, SSS, Oleh, HOD, information, INEC, Asaba and HOD, legal, INEC, Asaba stressed that the absurdities were replicated across all the wards in Isoko South constituencies 1 and 11 for every polling units alleging that over 10-20 PDP stalwarts stood around the voting point to intimidate voters for PDP and collect immediate payment of N500, 000 and N500,0000 with one umbrella or six yards of wrapper in some places. “Further more, though we were told by the Inspector General of Police, that at least two policemen will be posted to every units on election day, this has not been so in the whole of Isoko South local government area as many wards are left without a single policeman in most cases. Result sheets are also not being pasted at the polling units at the end of balloting and counting.” noting that these were all against INEC’s promise of ensuring a level playing ground for all contestants and credible election through open secret voting.

The party while stating that to forestall abuses in the forthcoming State Assembly and gubernatorial elections, they appealed for INEC urgent intervention by directing the Electoral Officer (EO) in Oleh and all her officers to henceforth ensure that all presiding officers comply with all election procedures to avoid abuse especially by the PDP. “We make this report to you as a law abiding party who committed to the rule of law and orderliness with a fervent hope that immediate action will be taken especially to up hold INEC’s integrity.”

When contacted over the issue, image maker of INEC, Delta state, Mr Chinedu Onyechi stated that there was nothing like INEC deliberate refusal to give out collapsible cubicles adding that conducting free and fair and credible elections was the priority of INEC nation wide as such the commission should not be dragged into unnecessary and distracting issues.

 

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Politics