Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party(LP) in the November 11 election in Imo state, Senator Athan Achonu yesterday led a protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC) demanding certified true copies of the election results.
The Imo state governorship candidate leading the protest arrived the INEC office at about 12.20pm with the party’s national Youth leader, Kennedy Ahanaotu among others in a convoy of buses.
They were received by two INEC National Commissioners, Mohammed Haruna and Abdullahi Abdulzuru who led Senator Achonu into the INEC office for discussions on the Imo state governorship election.
Before then, the members of the protest who blocked INEC office were chanting anti INEC songs, “INEC is corrupt; INEC is not independent but dependent; INEC has killed our democracy; INEC is now for the highest bidder; and give us the certified true copy of Imo Governorship election amongst other songs.
But sensing that the protest was about to get out of hands, and with the arrival of a Police reinforcement from Maitama Police, the INEC Commissioner, Haruna asked Senator Achonu to come inside for further discussion.
He told the two INEC national commissioners that he had earlier informed INEC that he had written for Certified True copies to enable him file this petition before the governorship tribunal, but the commission kept adamant.
In the petition dated November 21 and received with an acknowledged stamp on November 22.
According a copy of the request to INEC, Senator Achonu asked for EC9 submitted by APC by the deputy governorship candidate in the governorship election in the November 11 2023, form CSRBS and the Labour Party candidate undertook to pay all the necessary fees .
Also, the Labour Party candidate demanded for the review of the election in accordance of section of the electoral act as well as forms EC8 series, EC 17 series and EC25 series
Senator also requested for forms EÇ40 series and EC series as well as Ballot papers and voters registers and all other electoral documents used in all the 27 Local governments areas of Imo state.
