NNPP Accuses INEC of Restraining Polling Agents from Ebonyi South By-Election

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has leveled allegations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of preventing its polling agents from participating in the Ebonyi South by-election.

Nwaeze Onu, a chieftain of the NNPP, voiced these accusations in an interview with newsmen on Saturday, highlighting the party’s lack of representation in all polling units across the senatorial district.

“We do not have a single agent in all polling units across the senatorial district. We duly uploaded our agent list on the INEC system for accreditation and distribution of identification materials to political parties,” Onu asserted, emphasizing the party’s compliance with the required procedures.

Onu further revealed that despite efforts by the state NNPP chairman, who reportedly visited the INEC office in Abakaliki until 9 p.m. on Friday, they were informed that there were no identification cards available for the party.

“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,” Onu remarked, expressing the party’s determination to challenge what they perceive as disfranchisement.

In response, Christian Elekwa, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department of INEC in the state, refuted the NNPP’s claims, stating, “The uploading of party agents’ list was not done in the states; it was done at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The NNPP should have monitored the accreditation of its party agents in Abuja because that is from where such lists were sent to the states.”