The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to claims by the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State that the commission has denied its candidate in the November 11 gubernatorial election, Athan Achonu, access to certified true copies of documents used for the concluded election as required by law.
In a Saturday statement, Director of Media and Publicity for the Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation, Chibuikem Diala said that Imo State INEC under Prof. Sylvia Agu was engaging in “devious delay tactics” perhaps to “perfect their rigging by tampering with sensitive materials in INEC office”.
“INEC was so efficient in announcing the results of 27 LGA in less than 12 hours after the elections; why then is it taking the same INEC over 144 hours to issue the documents backing their pronouncements? One would expect a better and more efficient approach from the electoral body,” Diala’s statement read in part.
However, INEC explained the delay in a Monday statement shared via its verified X handle.
“The attention of the Management of the Commission in Imo State has been drawn to the statements from the Labour Party in Imo State, which claims that INEC has refused to issue the Party with a Certified True Copies of Election materials, and wish to make clarifications on the matter.
“INEC however acknowledges the receipt of the application for the certification of documents from the LP, and had held active correspondence with them, informing them that the legal department would estimate the cost of the certification of all 33 items they requested for.
“The Commission is assembling all the needed documents to assess the cost so that payment could be made.
“Management clearly understands the right of parties to request for CTC of documents and would work assiduously to issue them,” the commission said.
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