BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA – Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has demanded immediate and unconditional removal or redeployment of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, and the new returning officer for Anambra Central senatorial district, Professor Charles Esimone, arguing that their impartiality was highly questionable.

Addressing reporters in Awka yesterday, Anambra State chairman of the party, Chief Amaechi Obidike, said members of the party would not fold their arms and allow those he described as impostors to rob voters in Anambra Central senatorial zone their right to decide who should be their senator.

According to him, the double standard exhibited by INEC in Anambra Central senatorial election was worrisome and has put a question mark on the integrity and impartiality of the commission.

“His words: “We are surprised that INEC is still retaining the services of Onukaogu and Esimone, notwithstanding the avalanche of petitions and serious allegations against them by the original constituency returning officer, Mr. Alex Anene, and other stakeholders.

“If INEC is, indeed, concerned about its integrity and neutrality in the electoral process, the proper course of action would have been to dispense with the services of the duo mentioned above and uphold the result as announced by the authentic returning officer.”

He also alleged that the state government had hired security operatives and thugs to intimidate the electorate from coming out to vote.