The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Imo Chapter, has joined the call for the use of INEC permanent staff for supplementary election scheduled for Saturday in the state.
The state Chairman of IPAC, Chief Levi Ekeh made the call on Wednesday while addressing newsmen on the resolution reached at the group’s recent emergency meeting in Owerri.
Mr Uche Ogbuagu, Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency supplementary election made similar call on Tuesday.
While Ogbuagu had appealed for unbiased, uncompromised INEC staff as against the use of ad hoc staff, Ekeh sought specific use of INEC permanent staff as presiding officers, collation officers and returning officers.
Ekeh said the appeal became imperative “considering the sensitivity of the election because someone must be held responsible.”
The group noted that the Feb. 25 and March 18 general elections were characterized by cases of alleged harassments, intimidation of voters and party agents by some armed security men and thugs.
“More worrisome is the inherent dangers and risks which the innocent voters were exposed to in such unethical conduct such as sporadic shootings, beatings, and rough-handling of women and aged voters.
“We, the IPAC, shall personally facilitate the prosecution of any individual or group who will try to scuttle a free, fair and credible election in Imo supplementary election,” he noted.
He said the group would ensure the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation of voters and uploading of polling unit results to the IREV.
“Our members shall insist that no result from any polling unit where accreditation was not done with the BVAS will be collated.
“We shall resist any attempt by thugs or security agents to force any party agent out from the polling unit or collation center.
“Armed security personnel will not be allowed into the polling units/inside the collation center,” he added.
Ekeh further appealed to all security agencies to maintain neutrality and play by the rules of engagements during the supplementary election.
The three major candidates contesting the Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency seat include Ogbuagu, Mr Akarachi Amadi of the APC and Mr Osmond Ukanacho of the PDP, among others.
