By Sanni Azeezat Opeyemi (SIWES student at Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade)
The Labour Party (LP) and its supporters marched to the INEC office in Abuja, demanding the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Imo State governorship election results.
Clearly emphasizing their commitment to electoral transparency, LP leaders Kennedy Ahanotu and Athan Achonu led the demonstration.
Achonu passionately asserted his victory, alleging interference with the Imo poll results and questioning the swift announcement compared to Bayelsa State.
Determined to pursue legal action, Achonu highlighted the LP’s prior request for the CTC, expressing dissatisfaction with INEC’s response delay.
Achonu revealed that during the election, their collation agent urged INEC to verify results on the backend server due to suspicions.
Shockingly, INEC declined, and the returning officer proceeded with questionable results.
The LP criticized the expedited Imo results announcement within two hours, contrasting it with the Bayelsa case, which took three days despite fewer local governments.
Achonu declared their intent to collect the CTC personally, emphasizing they won’t leave until it’s obtained.
LP’s Ahanotu criticized INEC’s perceived bias, lamenting its deviation from being a neutral democratic backbone.
Following the protest, INEC’s National Commissioner Malam Mohammed Haruna and Prof. Abdulahi Zuru assured LP of cooperation, pledging prompt attention to their right to receive the CTC for the election petition.
