The Ebonyi State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has petitioned the national Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega over alleged biased activities of a federal commissioner of INEC from the state, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku.
In a four-page petition signed by Labour Party’s solicitor, Barr. Oge Chigozie Eze from the chambers of Stanley Odanwu and Associates, the party accused Nwuruku of having taken over the work of Ebonyi’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Lawrence Azubuike by supervising the recruitment and deployment of INEC permanent and ad-hoc staff for election duties with the instruction to deliver the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the coming elections.
The petition, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Enugu on Wednesday further alleged that during the March 28 presidential and national assembly elections, Nwuruku, who they also accused of being a card carrying member of PDP, relocated to Ebonyi state where he coordinated the rigging of the election in favour of PDP.
While appealing to Prof. Jega to call Chief Nwuruku to order and investigate his activities in the state, the LP also called for the redeployment of the over 85 percent of INEC ad-hoc staff whose names were submitted by PDP candidates as compiled by Barr Eric Kelechi Igwe the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the state and Chief Nwuruku’s former personal assistant.
“INEC should note that Chief Lawrence Nwuruku has shamelessly abused his office and is no longer a fit and proper person to occupy the office.
“During the last recruitment of Junior Staff in INEC, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku influenced the recruitment of quite a good number of personnel from Ebonyi state into the commission. The compensation these staff pay to Chief Nwuruku is rigging of elections in favour of his preferred candidates”, it stated.
The LP presented a document purported to be a photocy of PDP’s register in Ebonyi state where, Chief Nwuruku’s name appeared on serial N0. 17, membership card N0. 4862519, occupation: public servant, Ward: Enyibichiri, Booth: Ndinwesa.
The LP further alleged that PDP allocated political candidates to Nwuruku during the party’s primaries.
“Chief Nwuruku’s brother Mr. Humphrey Nwuruku is the PDP candidate for Ikwo North State Constituency, while Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe is the PDP Deputy Governorship candidate in Ebonyi State. Chief Lawrence Nwuruku is an uncle to Barrister Eric Kelechi Igwe,” they alleged.
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