The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been criticized for refusing to give the Labour Party’s 27 candidates for the Imo State House of Assembly certified accurate copies of the election results.
The candidates claimed that because of INEC’s conduct, they were unable to finish submitting their tribunal processes.
Comrade Precious Nwadike, a party candidate for the Orlu State Constituency, said on behalf of the candidates at a news conference in Owerri on Sunday that INEC’s action was an intentional attempt to prevent them from submitting petitions with the tribunal.
In spite of a court order requiring INEC to produce the results’ certified true copies, he said, INEC had suppressed them.
The candidates urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state to retrace her steps, maintaining that they will employ all legal means to reclaim their mandate.
The flag bearers submitted that the REC allowed herself to be used by desperate politicians to subvert the will of the people and called for her removal.
The candidates said the February 18 polls were characterised by rigging, intimidation and harassment of their agents and voters.
According to them, results were manufactured in areas election did not hold and INEC accepted the results.