The Labour Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga has cried out that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has continued to defy an order of court mandating him to allow the Labour Party and its candidate to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) used for the March 18 elections in the state.
The Enugu State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal had issued an order compelling INEC to allow the Labour Party to inspect the BVAS machines used in voter accreditation in some parts of the state.
But a few days ago, the Labour Party governorship candidate had written a petition to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, accusing the Enugu REC of refusal to comply with the order of the tribunal, an allegation that was denied, prompting the scheduling of the inspection for Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
But contrary to the order of the court, the Head of Department, Voter Education at INEC, Mr. Chuka Rex Achumie, invited members of the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting that the Labour Party won’t conduct the inspection without the agreement of the PDP.
This situation led to a shouting match at the INEC premises in Enugu, leading to the disruption of the exercise by thugs.
Reports say as early as 9.00am, Wednesday, the Labour Party inspection team led by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Dr. John Nwokeabia, had arrived at the INEC office at Independence layout to carry out the court order. He was prevented by the HOD, Voter Education, who told them that they deliberately invited PDP members and other party members to come and be part of the exercise.
It was alleged that those thugs who invaded the INEC office also threatened the forensic expert who was invited for the analyses of the BVAS machines.
All entreaties by the LP team and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Independence Layout Police Station to allow LP to carry out the order granted them by the Court fell on deaf ears. Mr. Achumie insisted that no inspection was going to take place without the agreement of the PDP.
Addressing the press at the INEC premises, the spokesman of the Edeoga Campaign Organisation, Engr. George Ugwu, lamented the situation where INEC would become partisan in an exercise it was supposed to be the umpire and called on well-meaning Nigerians to advise the electoral body to toe the path of honour by respecting a court order.
“We do not understand what these people are doing. As you can see, we arrived here expecting to inspect the BVAS machines. How the INEC invited the PDP and insisted they will have to agree before we carry out the inspection is what we do not understand. This is the height of impunity and we want Nigerians to bear witness that Enugu REC and INEC are not only showing unhindered partisanship but also disobeying an order of the tribunal in an attempt to frustrate our search for justice,” Engr Ugwu said.
He said as a law-abiding party, the Labour Party will continue to explore lawful means to reclaim the mandate that was given to it by the people of Enugu State.