During a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri for the Imo State governorship election, Senators Samuel Anyanwu and Athan Achonu, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively, staged a walkout. The meeting took place on Wednesday and aimed to engage with various stakeholders, including governorship candidates, security agencies, the media, civil society organizations, and others in preparation for the upcoming November 11th poll.
The role of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu was fulfilled by National Commissioner Kenneth Ukeagu, representing the southeast. During the meeting, Ukeagu instructed journalists to switch off their cameras and devices and vacate the hall. This directive met with opposition from LP’s deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Tony Nwulu, and PDP’s representative, Jones Onyereri, who spoke on behalf of their respective flagbearers. They strongly argued that the press, as critical stakeholders, should not be excluded from the meeting.
Nwulu raised concerns of potential election rigging in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, questioning whether the meeting was meant to be a secretive affair. In support of Nwulu, Onyereri displayed copies of documents he described as fake result sheets posted on the INEC portal during the state’s House of Assembly election.
