Labour Party Insists on Wards as Collation Centres

Tony Icheku in Owerri

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the November 11,  2023 election, Senator Athan Achonu  yesterday  distanced the LP from claims that collation of results for the election would be moved from ward collation centres to respective Local Government Areas headquarters.

“The LP was not party to any agreement by political parties to move collation of results from the ward collation centres to the LG headquarters. We will use all lawful means to resist any plan to collate results in any place other than officially designated locations at the ward level and at the local government level”

He further declared that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must ensure that collation of results is done manually and electronically, pointing out that Form EC8 is a legal document needed to satisfy compliance to the electoral process

The LP flagbearer further proffered that his campaigns council is officially putting INEC on notice about plans by  All Progressives Congress (APC)  to compromise Polling Officers and Ad Hoc Staff during the election in order  to influence its outcome .

“I urge INEC and security agents to be alert and checkmate these efforts at rigging the election and ensure that sensitive materials do not get into the wrong hands,” he said during a press conference at his campaigns headquarters in Owerri .

The LP flagbearer also  alleged that APC leaders are harvesting details of Voter Cards in some communities including Owerri West, Oguta, Okigwe, Ihitte Uboma LGAs, a development he described as  criminal and an attempt to subvert the will of the people

He also urged INEC to announce a public primary school as collation centre for Isiala Mbano and  every other locations where INEC  offices were burnt down.

Responding to questions about elections not holding in six LGAs owing to insecurity, Achonu countered that he is confident that election would hold in every part of the State.

 “We do not entertain fears that fears over security would keep people away from the polling booths. Imolites are ready to take back their State. The off season election is only holding in three States and we are confident that there will be massive deployment of security person all over the State to assure people of their safety. President Bola Tinubu is a democrat, he has fought for restoration of democracy in this country and we are confident he would not do anything contrary to his hard earned reputation as a democrat,” he said.