In the vibrant district of Ikenegbu in Owerri Municipal Council, Imo State, the political atmosphere crackled with tension as agents of the Labour Party ,LP, raised their voices in protest. Their grievance?
The alleged last-minute swapping of Polling Unit officers, a move that sparked discontent among potential voters, including a dismayed LP member named Madu.
Madu expressed his frustration, highlighting the surprise and disappointment stemming from the sudden change in the personnel deployed to the voting center this morning.
The LP’s governorship candidate, Chibuikem Diala, acting as the spokesperson, asserted that such swaps were not isolated incidents, claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, was executing similar changes across the state.
Diala conveyed the LP’s discovery that initially trained Polling Unit officers, equipped by INEC for the task at hand, were replaced at the eleventh hour by individuals who did not undergo INEC’s training. This allegation raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
Simultaneously, the LP in Imo State leveled another set of accusations, asserting that electoral materials had been hijacked and diverted to a private residence in Orlu Local Government Area.
According to the LP, materials destined for Okigwe LGA suffered a similar fate, allegedly falling into the hands of thugs aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress ,APC.
Chibuikem, the LP’s spokesperson, contended that APC members were responsible for these alleged hijackings and diversions.
He specifically claimed that materials for seven wards in Orlu were rerouted to the palace of the Traditional Ruler of Amaifeke community, Emmanuel Okeke.
However, these claims were refuted by the traditional ruler and the APC’s spokesperson, Cajetan Duke, who emphasized that the party does not engage in electoral misconduct.
As the accusations and denials reverberated through the political landscape of Imo State, the unfolding drama highlighted the stakes and tensions embedded in the electoral process, where the pursuit of a fair and credible outcome often contends with the shadows of suspicion and distrust.
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