28th February, 2023
By EricJames Ochigbo
Rep. Kingsley Uju (PDP-Imo), representing the Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency, has called for the investigation of the activities of INEC staff in the constituency.
Uju made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja, and alleged that the INEC staff connived with politicians to undermine the 2023 National Assembly polls.
Because of insecurity and the late arrival of INEC officials, polls were not held in many wards in the constituency, according to the lawmaker.
Meanwhile, Uju said that there was a scheme to rig the House of Representatives election results in favour of a certain anointed candidate.
He urged the INEC chairman to reject results from wards where no elections were held, calling such results bogus.
“My call is for INEC to invite the Returning Electoral Officer (REC) of Imo and all the INEC staff who worked in the constituency to ascertain what happened.
“I appeal to the INEC chairman that this is the time for us to reshape the class and quality of people we employ at INEC, either as Ad hoc or permanent staff.
“It is worrisome that the president and the National Assembly will make provision for free and fair polls only for the elections to be thwarted by people with questionable characters.
“In Oru West Local Government Area, elections did not hold in seven polling units. In Ohaji-Egbema LGA, elections were not conducted in six wards and so any result from those wards should not be accepted.
“Elections did not hold in five wards in Oguta LGA and any result from the area should not be accepted. Also in Oguta LGA, elections were conducted in only three wards,” he said.
However, Uju stated that in places where elections were held, INEC should only uphold results as received at polling units and not results allegedly altered by his opponents.
Instead of accepting tainted election results, he believes INEC should nullify the entire Federal Constituency of Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru West and hold new, free, and fair elections.
The lawmaker claimed that his life was in danger, claiming that he had been attacked multiple times and harassed by police personnel in the previous two months.
Uju urged the Inspector-General of Police to warn police officials to cease harassing and intimidating his supporters.
NAN