Prominent Lawyer Accuses INEC Commissioner of Lying About Election Documents
In a recent development, Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, a renowned lawyer and Labour Party chieftain, took to social media to accuse Festus Okoye, the Commissioner for Voter Education at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of lying during a national television interview. Okonkwo’s allegations surfaced during the ongoing Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, where he represents the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi.
I just finished watching Festus Okoye, INEC Commissioner for voter education, on Politics Today, Channels TV, 29th June 2023, at 7pm, and the interview has reinforced the long-held conclusion that INEC manipulated the election to declare their preferred candidate in the … pic.twitter.com/MPNUUJ4A1t
— Kenneth Okonkwo (@realkenokonkwo) June 29, 2023
In a series of tweets posted on Thursday night, Okonkwo claimed that Okoye had lied about INEC providing all the election documents requested by the petitioners challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential polls. According to Okonkwo, INEC not only informed the tribunal that certain requested documents no longer existed, but the electoral umpire also disregarded court orders to produce crucial documents required by the petitioners to support their respective cases.
The Twitter outburst by Okonkwo has triggered a flurry of reactions from Nigerians on the social media platform. Numerous individuals flocked to the comments section, offering their thoughts on the matter. While some agreed with Okonkwo’s accusations, others vehemently rejected his claims against Festus Okoye, the INEC Commissioner.
The allegations made by Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo have raised concerns regarding the transparency and accountability of INEC in handling election-related matters. The ongoing Election Petitions Tribunal is already under intense scrutiny, and Okonkwo’s accusations further add to the atmosphere of doubt surrounding the credibility of the electoral process.
It remains to be seen how INEC and Commissioner Festus Okoye will respond to these serious allegations. Nigerians, as well as the international community, are keenly watching to see if the electoral commission can address the concerns raised by the Labour Party’s legal team and ensure a fair and just resolution to the ongoing Election Petitions Tribunal.
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this case will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the future of Nigeria’s electoral system and the public’s trust in the democratic process.
