By Bello Gideon (SIWES student, AAPOLY)
A harmony meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the Imo State governorship election on Saturday took an unexpected turn in Owerri, the state capital.
The INEC National Commissioner representing the South-East, Kenneth Ukeagu, instructed journalists to turn off their cameras and devices, leading to chaos and the departure of participants, including traditional rulers, especially after the Labor Party and the Peoples Democratic Party members opposed Ukeagu’s directive.
In another development, the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress directed workers in Imo State to begin a strike in protest against Governor Hope Uzodimma’s bid for re-election, potentially impacting the election’s logistics and distribution of materials.
The conflict at the Owerri meeting began when Ukeagu ordered journalists to switch off their equipment, a decision challenged by Labor Party deputy governorship candidate Tony Nwulu, who questioned the rationale.
He asserted that the media must be part of the meeting, and the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Jones Onyereri, supported this stance, alleging a collusion between the All Progressives Congress and the electoral body to manipulate the election.
Tensions rose, leading to a shouting match between APC and opposition members, causing traditional rulers, party leaders, and electoral commissioners to flee to avoid violence.
After the traditional rulers left, calm was restored, and the meeting resumed. Opposition parties insisted on the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sylvia Agu, accusing her of bias in favor of the APC.
Governorship candidates of the opposition parties later walked out of the meeting, demanding Agu’s immediate redeployment.
INEC, in a statement, defended its decision to retain Agu, stating that there was no compelling evidence to support her removal. They announced that other national commissioners would assist her on Election Day.
However, opposition parties, including the Labor Party and the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, insisted that Agu’s alleged connections to APC members and the need for fairness and equity called for her removal, warning that failure to do so could compromise the election’s integrity.
