Legal Clash Escalates: Imo LP Raises Concerns Over INEC’s Alleged Disregard For BVAS Court Directive Details

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The Imo chapter of the Labour Party has raised accusations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming that the commission is obstructing their access to the BVAS used in the November 11 Governorship Election…CONTINUE READING

The party’s Chairman, Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa, asserted this during a press conference in Owerri on Saturday, noting that this denial of BVAS access goes against the Election Petition Tribunal’s order from November 26, 2023.

Applications for the inspection of election materials, including the BVAS, were submitted to INEC by the LP, PDP, YPP, and APGA, according to Ihejiagwa.

He emphasized that the Election Petition Tribunal’s order explicitly includes forensic inspection of the BVAS.

Despite this, Ihejiagwa stated that INEC, on Wednesday, claimed that only the commission’s headquarters had the authority to grant access to the BVAS for inspection.

He revealed that out of over 5,000 BVAS machines, INEC made only 65 available for inspection but denied the LP’s forensic experts access to them.

Expressing concern about INEC’s actions, Ihejiagwa questioned why the commission would hinder the litigation process when it was merely an impartial umpire in the election.

He highlighted the discrepancy where an INEC official read accreditation figures from the BVAS machines without granting access to Certified True Copies of the card copies for due diligence.

With less than 24 hours remaining to examine the BVAS machines and present findings to the Election Petition Tribunal, Ihejiagwa emphasized the urgency of obtaining access.

Senator Athan Achonu, the LP governorship candidate’s counsel, Mr Okwudili Anozie, stressed that the tribunal’s order for a forensic examination of the BVAS machines aims to ensure the machines remain untampered with before and after the election.

Anozie expressed disappointment at INEC’s disobedience to the tribunal’s order but affirmed the party’s confidence in the judiciary for justice dispensation.

Earlier in the week, INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, had confirmed that the requested materials for inspection were prepared and awaiting examination.