CUPP charges INEC to nullify Imo by-elections over violence

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to nullify the Ngor Okpala by-election in Imo State over alleged intimidation and harassment of the people.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere who decried the ‘rape against the will of the people.’

“The best thing for INEC is to cancel the entire Ngor Okpalla Election given the madness and attempt by Gov. Hope Uzodinma to rape the will of the people and visit his political 419 on our democratic process again.

“Powers contained in the New Electoral Act must be tested and used to cleanse the attempt by Uzodinma to dirty our electoral process and rape the will of the people.

“It’s painful that a few hours after Nigerians applauded Buhari for signing the Electoral Act, Uzodinma has embarrassed the President by visiting mayhem on the people and messing the law up.

READ ALSO: Thugs kidnap INEC staff in Imo by-election

“The law must be used to tame Uzodinma by canceling the entire process to help rebuild confidence,” Ugochinyere added.

Suspected political thugs on Saturday had kidnapped some ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the Ngor Okpala State Constituency by-election in the state.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, disclosed this to journalists shortly after the election in Owerri.

He said the kidnapped staff were moved to an unknown destination and forced to thumbprint on the ballot papers

He, however, added that the ballot papers would be rejected by the commission.

Ezeonu said: “We have received the report of violence of election and disruption of polls on some polling units and attacks on our personnel. So far no casualty has been reported.

“We have noticed with great worries an abduction of some of our Ad-hoc staff with the election materials towards the end of the polls. While the earlier violence started with the snatching of election materials it ended with the abduction of our staff, ballot papers and materials.

“Some of our abducted Adhoc staff were blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where they were compelled to thump print the ballot papers.”

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