The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed it did not monitor the re-run primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in Aboh Mbaise-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Imo State.
The Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Dr Chinenye Osuji disclosed the absence of the commission on Monday, while addressing journalists in Owerri.
Osuji said, “Any political party that decides to conduct its primaries in the absence of INEC is an effort in futility. INEC has to be present to monitor the exercise.
“If PDP decides to conduct the re-run primaries for Aboh Mbaise-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency without INEC’s involvement, they know what they have done. So, it’s not for us to say.”
She said the Head of the Election and Political Parties Monitoring department disclosed that there was no directive from the headquarters to observe the exercise.
“Maybe PDP didn’t write the Commission in good time for whatever reason, I can’t really say. You can reach the EPM for further clarifications on the subject matter,” she added.
This medium reported a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri fired Albert Agulanna, who emerged as the PDP candidate in the 2023 House of Representatives election, seeking to represent the constituency.