INEC Is Not Allowing Us To Inspect Electoral Materials in Akwa Ibom — APC

Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress in the March 9 election in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Nsima Ekere has said INEC is frustrating all plans to inspect electoral materials as pronounced by the tribunal.

Lead Counsel to Ekere, Mr. Victor Iyanam revealed this at a news conference in Uyo two days back.

He shared that INEC was playing the PDP script by intentionally delaying the inspection of election materials as they look to waste time.

He said, “We are distressed by the delay, refusal and unwholesome excuses given by your office for non compliance.

“Some of the excuses include: non availability of the materials as a result of transport challenges in bringing them from local government areas, inadequate staff to carry out those duties and the claim that the INEC staff are busy with Senator Godswill Akpabio’s inspection.

“The excuses have variously continued to be untenable in the light of the short period of time to prove our case at the Election Petition Tribunal,”

“INEC is supposed to be unbiased. We wonder why INEC is playing hide-and-seek, giving flimsy excuses to deny us access to the materials,”

Responding, the Public Affairs Officer of INEC in the state, Mr. Don Etukudoh, revealed the allegation was baseless.

His words, “Between last week Thursday and today, they had met with the INEC legal team only once and since then, there has been no communication again.

“They have not come back until today, so the allegations are baseless.

“Inspection is not an easy exercise; it is something that has to be sorted out.

“We have a schedule for the governorship, including even the National and State house of Assembly elections.”