The People Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating efforts to inspect the electoral materials used for the State Governorship elections as ordered by Tribunal.
Mr Chris Agbor, Secretary of the special inspection committee set up by the party for that purpose made the accusation at a press briefing in Calabar.
He said that the commission was fo
deliberately frustrating the committee from executing its mandate despite a subsisting court order
Agbor said all attempts made by his members to inspect the listed materials have been met by “brick wall.”
He listed the electoral materials to be inspected to include: BVAS, used and unused ballot papers, result sheets and ballot paper stumps.
He accused the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Gabriel Yomere, and the Head of Operations of playing “hide-and-seek-game with them.”
It would be recalled that the Tribunal had granted the PDP and its Governorship candidate rrelief to inspect relevant sensitive materials used in the said election.
The relief constituted one of the prayers sought for by the plaintiff in the Petition No: EPT/CR/GOV/03M/2023 dated April 4, 2023 duly filed by the petitioner before the four man Tribunal led by Justice J.O Okeya-Inneh.
The Tribunal chairman on April 6th granted the Order to the party to inspect the materials.
Agbor said when they first interfaced with the INEC team after the order was duly served, the REC promised to give them six days to inspect the materials.
“But surprisingly, the commission has deliberately refused us access to the BVAS, used and unused ballot papers, result sheets, ballot paper stumps and other essential materials.
“the action of the REC is a flagrant disregard to the subsisting Order issued by the honourable Tribunal and this unwholesome posture tantamount to contempt of court.
“At this stage, we are left with no other option than to report to the Court for necessary action to enable us secure unhindered access to the materials. This is an essential process and step in pursuing the matter.
“The action of the Commission, especially the Head of Operations, is an indication that there is a foul play somewhere and we shall pursue this inspection of election materials to the end just as we shall not be deterred in any way from pursuing the case to its logical conclusion,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the REC has claimed he is not aware of any impediment hindering the PDP team from inspecting the materials.
The REC who said that he was indisposed and handed over to his administrative secretary, noted that he gave specific instructions to ensure strict compliance to Court order.
“PDP is free to access every materials used at the elections except the BIVAS which they must apply to our headquarters in Abuja before we can allow them to check,” he stated.
