The Imo State chapter of the Action Peoples Party (APP) has called for transparency over an alleged plan to move the collation centre for the Ideato North/South Federal Constituency from Urualla in Ideato North Local Government Area to Dikenafai in Ideato South.
Key Highlights
- Imo APP urges transparency over alleged relocation of Ideato North/South collation centre.
- Party seeks legal process and stakeholder consultation before any change.
- Dispute over alleged relocation is before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
- APP demands verifiable evidence if insecurity is cited as justification.
- Party also raises concerns over possible changes in the NINN constituency.
The party said any proposed change to an established electoral arrangement should follow the relevant legal and administrative procedures and involve adequate consultation with political parties, candidates, community leaders and other stakeholders.
In a statement signed by its Imo State Chairman, Hon. Ernest Njesi, the APP said decisions affecting an entire federal constituency should not be taken without clear explanations and publicly verifiable reasons.
The controversy is already before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where concerned residents are challenging an alleged move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate the constituency’s collation centre. The plaintiffs are seeking judicial scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the proposed change.
The allegations concerning INEC officials and the basis for the proposed relocation remain subject to determination by the court.
The APP said it would not prejudge the court proceedings but argued that any claim of insecurity being used to justify a change of such significance should be supported by credible and verifiable information.
“If insecurity is being relied upon as the basis for such a significant administrative decision, then the relevant authorities owe the public a clear explanation and verifiable evidence supporting that position,” Njesi said.
He warned that unexplained administrative decisions or unclear security claims could create unnecessary suspicion and tension among communities in the constituency.
The party also stressed the longstanding social, economic and cultural links between Ideato North and Ideato South, saying electoral arrangements should be handled in a manner that preserves public confidence.
“We cannot allow vague claims or unexplained administrative decisions to become instruments for creating unnecessary tension among our people,” the APP chairman said.
The party extended its concern to the Nkwerre/Isu/Njaba/Nwangele Federal Constituency, commonly known as NINN, where it said it was also apprehensive about any possible changes to established electoral arrangements.
The APP therefore urged INEC and the relevant security authorities to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding any proposed relocation of collation centres and make the legal and administrative basis for such decisions available to stakeholders.
It also called for the disclosure of verifiable security assessments where such assessments are being relied upon to alter electoral arrangements.
The party said stakeholders should be consulted before implementing any decision capable of significantly affecting the conduct or administration of elections within a constituency.
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INEC’s public records currently list an office for Ideato North at the LGA Secretariat in Urualla and an Ideato South office behind the LGA Secretariat in Dikenafai. The listings confirm the existence of INEC facilities at both locations, but do not by themselves establish that a federal constituency collation centre has been formally relocated.
The APP further urged electoral authorities to ensure that administrative decisions do not give any political party, candidate or individual an undue advantage.
“Electoral decisions must not become the private affair of a few individuals,” Njesi said, stressing that such decisions have consequences for political actors and voters.
The party called on residents of Ideato North, Ideato South and the NINN constituency to remain calm and law-abiding while the issues are addressed through the appropriate legal and democratic channels.
It said it would continue to advocate transparency, accountability, fairness and peaceful political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
