The party has cited numerous incidents of irregularities, including the late arrival of election materials, malfunctioning card readers, and inadequate distribution of materials in some areas. In addition, they have accused some electoral officers of colluding with political parties to influence the outcome of the election.
In a press statement, the Labour Party in Imo State has called for the immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Agu, and all Electoral Officers and Supervising Presiding Officers (SPOs) in the state. The party has demanded that INEC conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice.
The party has also vowed to challenge the results of the elections in court if the electoral body does not address the concerns raised by them. The Labour Party has maintained that the elections were rigged and that the results do not reflect the true wishes of the people of Imo State.
The allegations of electoral malpractice and fraud have become a recurrent issue in Nigerian elections, and many political parties and civil society groups have called for reforms to address the issue. In recent years, there have been calls for the use of technology, such as electronic voting and the transmission of results, to ensure transparency and prevent rigging.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Imo State elections underscores the need for INEC to take measures to ensure that future elections are free, fair, and credible. The removal of compromised officials and the thorough investigation of electoral malpractice allegations are vital steps in this direction. It is hoped that INEC will take appropriate action to address the concerns raised by the Labour Party and other groups to restore public confidence in the electoral process.