Nsima Ekere, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), in the March 9 election in Akwa Ibom State says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is frustrating efforts to inspect election materials as ordered by the tribunal.
Victor Iyanam, Lead Counsel to Mr Ekere, disclosed at a news conference in Uyo on Tuesday.
He said INEC was playing the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) script by deliberately delaying the inspection of election materials with a view to killing time.
He said the tribunal order issued on April 15 mandating INEC to allow APC legal team to carry out the inspection has not been obeyed by INEC.
According to him, INEC has continued to give the party flimsy excuses to delay the inspection and frustrate the party from achieving its objectives.
Mr Iyanam said INEC as an umpire should not be seen to be playing the script of PDP to cause unnecessary delay since the tribunal has a time frame to conclude its assignment.
“We are however, 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 materials from Local Government Areas.
“Inadequate staff to carry out those duties and the fact that the INEC staff are busy with Sen. 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,” Mr Iyanam said.
