The All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to stop Thursday’s scheduled inspection of the November 11, 2023, Kogi gubernatorial election materials by the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The party also called for the removal and disciplining of the Kogi INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr Gabriel Longpet.
In a statement by Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Spokesperson/Director of Media and Publicity, APC Campaign Council, the party accused the REC of being heavily compromised by the SDP and its candidate.
The party frowned at the readiness of INEC to allow the legal team of SDP to inspect the election materials in disregard to an alleged preliminary objection earlier raised by its counsels before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The party said: “We at this moment call on the Chairman and Management of INEC to immediately halt any inspection of electoral materials used in the November 11, 2023, governorship election in Kogi, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice filed by INEC and others to set the Order of inspection aside.
“INEC should commence disciplinary processes against the REC, Dr Longpet, having been heavily compromised by the SDP and its Candidate.
“This is because the message from the REC to INEC officials to appear for the inspection on Thursday, January 4, is an admission of graft by him and a final nail on his fraudulent activities in the State.
“He, REC has misrepresented the integrity and legal interest of INEC. The commission should suspend or redeploy the REC from Kogi pending the outcome of the disciplinary process against him.”