Labour Party Chieftain in Enugu State, Barrister Lucky Chukwu, has made startling accusations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the integrity of the upcoming bye-election. Addressing journalists on Saturday morning, Chukwu claimed that INEC had already written the results for the Enugu South urban state constituency bye-election before the polls had even taken place. He alleged that the election result sheets had been manipulated in favor of certain candidates without due process.
Expressing his concerns, Chukwu emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring fair electoral processes. He condemned the reported actions of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Chukwuemeka Chukwu, and the police, whom he accused of complicity in the alleged electoral malpractice. According to Chukwu, the REC and law enforcement officials were responsible for removing the election result sheets under suspicious circumstances.
Chukwu called for transparency in the electoral process and demanded the use of Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure the integrity of the bye-election. He criticized the Electoral Officer, Francis Chigbo, for allegedly refusing to show the result sheets to voters, further fueling suspicions of electoral misconduct. Chukwu challenged INEC to upload the election results on the INEC Results Viewing (IREV) platform to facilitate transparency and accountability.
The Labour Party chieftain expressed frustration with the lack of accountability from INEC officials and urged security agencies to intervene to prevent further electoral irregularities. He called on INEC to uphold its mandate to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, emphasizing the importance of restoring public trust in the electoral process. As tensions escalate ahead of the bye-election, Chukwu’s accusations raise serious questions about the integrity of the electoral system and the need for swift and decisive action to address potential misconduct.
