The Department of State Service, DSS, has arrested the Head of Operations in the Imo State office of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and about 15 others, for allegedly tampering with result sheets and thumb-printing ballot papers.
The Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state, Chief Nnamdi Anyaechie, who made this known on Wednesday, in Owerri, the state capital, called on the leadership of INEC to not only make the names of the suspects public, but also prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others.
“A little while ago, I received information from a member-elect of our great party that results of the just concluded National Assembly elections were being altered at INEC Headquarters, Owerri.
“Since the information appeared to be credible, the Secretary, Organising Secretary and myself went to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr. Gabriel Adah, to ascertain the veracity of the information given to us”, Anyaehie said.
According to the Imo PDP chair, the REC truly confirmed to their utter disbelief that some members of staff were truly involved in falsifying results.
He quoted the INEC officials as saying serious action was being taken in-house against the staff involved.
“We wish to use this medium to unequivocally call for immediate prosecution of those involved in this criminal act so that others, who may wish to be part of this heinous crime against our nation and state will be deterred”, Anyaehie pleaded.
While insisting that the law be allowed to take its course in this matter, Imo PDP also said that it had formally written to the REC, asking that the suspects be prosecuted.
“We also asked that the names of the members of staff be made public as a deterrent for those who may wish to go into this crime.
“Already, they have tampered with the results of Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo West senatorial zone, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opia of Ohaji Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency and Engr. Obinna Onwuvuariri of Okigwe North Federal Constituency”, Chief Anyaehie lamented.
The PDP chief expressed regrets at the astonishing turn of events that the general elections in Imo State had taken, stressing that a lot of money was paid to the suspects to engage in the damnable electoral malfeasance.
“We have been unrelenting in issuing press releases and reports about the absurdities and irregularities that characterised April 11 and March 28, 2015, elections in Imo State. This latest development is the combination of the whole r*pe on the electoral process in the state”, Anyaehie lamented.
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