“The electoral act explicitly outlines the collation of votes at the official Ward level, and it is imperative for INEC officials to strictly adhere to these guidelines to prevent any potential manipulation.
“I urge INEC in Imo State to instruct its officials in every Ward to comply with the established rules, ensuring that election results are collated at the designated Ward level. It is crucial not to deviate from these procedures by shifting the collation of results to local government headquarters, as this could create opportunities for manipulations,” he emphasized.
Achonu pointed out the case of the Isiala-Mbano INEC Office that was burned down and called on INEC to designate special centers for areas facing similar challenges. This step, he emphasized, would help prevent any form of rigging.
“We urge INEC to publish the names of places and Wards where the election will not take place. Transparency in this matter is essential to prevent manipulation,” he stressed. Achonu highlighted past instances where election results were transported to Local Government headquarters or State offices, creating opportunities for rigging or ballot box hijacking.
“We strongly advocate for INEC to avoid a repetition of such incidents. It is crucial for INEC to follow due process diligently, thereby mitigating unnecessary challenges and election disputes,” Achonu added firmly.
