Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The leadership of the Labour Party, LP, Imo State chapter, on Monday called for the sack of the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Sylvia Agu.
The LP state chairman, Ambrose Onyekwere, alongside other leaders of the party, made this demand while speaking to newsmen in Owerri, on the alleged widespread violence and irregularities that characterised the elections in Imo.
He said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Imo State Government should be held responsible for any breakout of violence.
Onyekwere alleged that: “From the outcome of the election, the Labour Party won from the presidency down to the National Assembly elections. The widespread violence and fraud were caused by the INEC and Imo State Government.
“Our areas of complaint, include the late arrival of election materials, and, the non-con-duct of the election in many polling units; we are in the process of compiling the areas; absence of INEC staff; INEC staff refusal to transfer results electronically.
“Others are that, INEC staff arrived at polling units with insufficient election materials; non-compliance with INEC direction to conduct the election on Sunday where the election did not take place on Saturday.”
“There were also intimidation and harassment of party agents with citizens demanding the right thing to be done. We call for the immediate removal of the REC, all POs, and EOs.
INEC and the Imo State Government should be held responsible for any breakout of violence. We call for the removal of Mrs. Sylvia Agu, the Residents Electoral commissioner, REC.”