The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating it’s efforts to challenge the outcome of the recently concluded 2023 general election in the state.
It wondered why this commission has refused to release the certified true copies (CTC) of Form EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and other related EC series, even after having been served with an order of the Court.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, the APC state legal adviser, Iheanyichukwu Dike, insisted that the INEC in the state has been highly compromised.
Dike said: “Immediately after the elections, we made application asking INEC Rivers State to oblige us with the certified true copies of Form EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and other related EC series as it concerns elections.
“As we speak to you, INEC has not been able to give us a single documents and what we are talking about is going to tribunal to seek for redress. Recall that we have only 21 day within which to file our complains, to file our petitions.
“How many days are left? Some of these results were declared on March 18, 2023; some we don’t know when they were declared. So, who do we know when and how to meet up with the 21 days. So, wd believe that it is intentional.
“As you can see, we have a Court order compelling INEC to allow us to inspect documents, to allowed us collect certified true copies. This order has been duly served on them; they have refused and decided to disobey the law. I don’t know where they are deriving their power from. I don’t know who they are working for.
“Are they working for the citizens of this country or they are working to enrich themselves or they are working for a particular individual to satisfy their urge? These are issues we are raising.
“I wonder why INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner cannot instruct his principal staff here and the Head of Operations and co, to release CTC results? We have a right to demand so; the law empowers us to do so.
“Why are they delaying it? Because they have connived with certain individuals that think they ars powerful in the state and they think the APC should not challenge the illegality they did at the field?
“Let me tell you, few days ago, it is on record, they invited some EOs to come and review their results; to review what they got from the field. What are they doing? Why are they afraid to release National Assembly EC8A? Is it due to the mutilation they did?
“They connived and came here to rewrite results, printing result sheets and doing a lot of irregularities in order to justify what they did in the field.
“The commission as it is in Rivers State is highly compromised. The Resident Electoral Commissioner should be called to order. The Head of Department of Operations should be called to order.”
