The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of barring its polling agents from Saturday’s Ebonyi South by-election.
Chief Nwaeze Onu, a chieftain of the party said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
“We do not have a single agent in all polling units across the senatorial district.
“We duly uploaded our agent list on the INEC system for accreditation
and distribution of identification materials to political parties,’ he said.
He said that the state NNPP chairman was at the INEC office in Abakaliki up till 9.pm on Friday but was told that there was no identification card for the party.
“We would not relent but it should be noted that we have been disfranchised from participating in the election.
“We cannot be on the booth when not accredited and will continue protesting this unfortunate development.
“INEC should realise that when someone is stopped from participating in an election, it is a breach of the electoral act,” he said.
Responding, Dr Christian Elekwa, the state INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department, denied the allegation.
“The uploading of party agents list was not done in the states; it was done at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
“The NNPP should have monitored the accreditation of its party agents in Abuja because that is from where such lists were sent to the states.
“The party should urge its national leadership to sort the issue and not heap blames on INEC,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant after Sen. David Umahi resigned to take up appointment as the Minister of Works.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently declared the seat vacant and slated Feb. 3 for by-election.(NAN)
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