Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Matthew Atungwu
Published on 2024-02-03 15:03:57
The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of restraining its polling agents from Ebonyi South by-election. According to a chieftain of the party, Nwaeze Onu, the party did not have a single agent in all polling units across the senatorial district. On Saturday, Nwaeze Onu spoke to newsmen about the party’s grievances with INEC.
The party claims that they duly uploaded their agent list on the INEC system for accreditation and the distribution of identification materials to political parties. However, they were unable to have any presence at the polling units. Nwaeze Onu stated that the state NNPP chairman was at the INEC office in Abakaliki until 9 pm on Friday but was told that there was no identification card for the party. This led to the party feeling disfranchised from participating in the election.
“We cannot be on the booth when not accredited and will continue protesting this unfortunate development. INEC should realize that when someone is stopped from participating in an election, it is a breach of the electoral act,” Nwaeze Onu said.
In response to the allegations, the state INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department, Christian Elekwa, denied the accusations. He stated that the uploading of party agents’ list was not done in the states but at the INEC headquarters in Abuja. He suggested that the NNPP should have monitored the accreditation of its party agents in Abuja because that is where such lists were sent to the states.
The accusations and denials between the NNPP and INEC highlight the contentious nature of the electoral process. The accusations of INEC deliberately restraining polling agents and the denial of such actions demonstrate the lack of trust and transparency in the electoral system. These allegations have the potential to undermine the fairness and credibility of the electoral process.
The accusations made by the NNPP raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential disenfranchisement of voters. If political parties are unable to have proper representation at polling units, it could undermine the legitimacy of the election results. It is essential for all parties involved in the electoral process to adhere to the electoral laws and ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in elections.
The allegations and denials also highlight the need for improved communication and transparency between political parties and electoral commissions. The process of accrediting party agents and the distribution of identification materials should be transparent and accessible to all parties. This will help to prevent disputes and grievances related to the representation of political parties at polling units.
Ultimately, the allegations made by the NNPP and the response from INEC underscore the need for a fair and transparent electoral process. It is imperative for electoral commissions to ensure that all political parties have equal opportunities to participate in the electoral process and represent their interests. Open communication and adherence to electoral laws are crucial in upholding the integrity and credibility of elections.
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