Some members of the labour Party, LP, in Enugu, on Saturday protested the failure of Idependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to provide original result sheets for the Enugu South Urban State constituency re-run election.
Members of LP at the Robinson Primary School, Uwani and Uwani Secondary School venues of the election alleged that INEC failed to present the original result sheets for the election.
However, members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who held a counter protest, stated that they have seen the result sheets, insisting that the election must hold as planned.
The by-election is holding in only eight polling units at the Robinson Primary School, Uwani and Uwani Secondary School, situated on the same street.
As at 12 noon, the election was yet to commence in spite the huge presence of military, police and DSS operatives due to disagreement on the availability of result sheet.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Enugu, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, who arrived at the venue of the election at about 11:45a.m., pleaded voters to allow for the conduct of the election, a plea which was roundly rejected.
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The REC who had earlier spoken to reporters in phone conversation around 10a.m., said he has not been briefed on why the election was yet to commence.
Reacting to the problem, the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial district, Sen. Kelvin Chukwu, and the member representing Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Chimaobi Atu accused INEC officials of compromise.
Chukwu alleged that the election has been compromised.
“I got to this place; I met with the Electoral Officer and told him to do the simplest thing by showing all the candidates the original result sheets which he has not produced.
“That is what is causing the tension. I am worried because since INEC is yet to show the result sheets, the election may not hold.
“I have spoken with the Assistant Commissioner of Police and the army officer in charge.
“I have told them what is required. I told the INEC man to show the people the result sheet, very simple. If that is not done, there will be no election”, he said.
On his part, Rep. Chimaobi Atu disclosed that his constituents were frustrated but were ready to defend the electoral process.
“Getting to this place, there is no result sheet. The result sheet should be shown to them before anything. And INEC is not doing what they should do.
“So the people are demanding that the result should be shown to them so that there will be a free and fair election. That is what the masses are standing for”, he said.
The candidate of PDP in the re-run, Chief Sam Ngene, accused members of the LP, including National Assembly members, Chukwu and Atu, of disrupting the electoral process.
“The election was about starting until Sen. Chukwu and his supporters came here to disrupt it.
“Yesterday night, the entire agents were shown the result sheets, but coming this morning, these people came here and started demanding for the result sheets.
“They should allow INEC set up their boots before demanding for result sheets. How can you be demanding for result sheets when they are yet to set up.
“They are jumping the gun. I am also calling on the security agencies to do the needful by moving Chukwu out of this place. He is not supposed to be here”, he said.
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