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Iheanyi Chukwudi
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has again prevented the Labour Party and its governorship candidate in the 2023 elections in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, from inspecting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) used for the March 18 elections in the state.
The REC by his action defied an order of the Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which mandated him to allow the Labour Party to inspect the BVAS machines used in voter accreditation in some parts of the state.
His first refusal prompted a petition by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Edeoga, to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, accusing the Enugu REC of refusal to comply with the order of the tribunal.
INEC denied the allegation, prompting the scheduling of the inspection for Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
But contrary to the order of the court, INEC through the Head of Department, Voter Education at INEC office Enugu, Mr. Chuka Rex Achumie, invited members of the ruling party in there state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and insisted that Labour Party will not conduct the inspection without the agreement of the PDP.
His stand led to a shouting match at the INEC premises, which eventually led to the disruption of the exercise by thugs allegedly brought by the PDP.
The Labour Party inspection team led by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Dr. John Nwaokeabia, had arrived at the INEC office at Independence Layout as early as 9.00am on Wednesday, to carry out the Court order, but was prevented by the HOD, Voter Education, who told them that the Commission deliberately invited PDP members and other party members to come and be part of the exercise.
The thugs who invaded the INEC office also allegedly, 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 proved abortive as Mr. Achumie insisted that no inspection would take place without the agreement of the PDP.
Speaking to newsmen at the INEC premises, the Spokesman of the Edeoga Campaign Organisation, Engr. George Ugwu decried 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.
He said, "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 as 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."
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