2023 Elections: INEC Creating Room for Manipulation, Ohanaeze Alleges

• The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of leaving room for manipulations ahead of the 2023 election
• According to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, INEC should be the regulator of Nigeria's electoral process and not the one complaining
• Going further, the group also raised doubt over the commission's preparedness for the forthcoming general elections

Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has levelled allegations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, the electoral umpire is guilty of leaving room for manipulations by politicians, Vanguard Newspaper reports.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo made this known through its national publicity secretary, Dr. Alex Chidozie Ogbonnia.

He said:

“They are supposed to be the regulator. They are supposed to regulate the electoral process, and the commission that is supposed to regulate the election is now complaining. Where are we going?

"There should be a mechanism in place to ensure things work according. We are supposed to complain to them but now they are the ones complaining to us. There must be opening, that is why some of these things are happening."

Going further, Ohanaeze questioned INEC's preparedness for the general election.

“That is exactly what they have been doing, what they in INEC for a very long time till now, and if with all the opportunity and money given to them, they have not been able to ensure a credible election and avoid irregularities; it is unfortunate”

2023 elections: Politicians buying PVCs from voters, INEC alleges

Meanwhile, in what can be described as another blow to Nigeria's electoral values, some politicians have been accused of buying up Permanent Voter Cards.

The allegation was levelled by INEC on Monday, December 12. It added that the politicians are financially inducing voters to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers.

This was disclosed by the acting chairman of INEC and National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna. He made this known in Abuja during the launch of the #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION.

Unknown gunmen attack INEC office, electoral umpire releases video

In another sad development, gunmen have attacked and burnt the Imo state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission located along Port Harcourt road in Owerri.

The aftermath of the attack was uploaded by the electoral umpire on INEC Twitter page on Monday, December 12. According to INEC, the attack was carried out around 3am.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, has confirmed the ugly development.

Source: Legit.ng