By CHARLES IWUOHA

A coalition of major opposition political parties in Imo State has sent strongly worded petitions to key anti-draft and security agencies over an alleged plot to compromise the integrity of the 2027 general elections in Imo State.

The coalition also called for an independent investigation and appropriate legal action against anyone found culpable.

In a petition on Tuesday, dated November 6, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, the coalition raised the alarm over a series of developments within INEC’s Imo State office which, it argued, needed urgent institutional scrutiny to safeguard the credibility, transparency and impartiality of the forthcoming electoral process.

Copies of the petition, which bear official receiving stamps, was received on November 9, 2026, at the offices of the INEC National Chairman, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Other recipients include the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State; INEC National Commissioners; and relevant domestic and international election-monitoring organisations.

The coalition’s decision to formally engage these institutions represents an escalation of its concerns beyond political pronouncements, placing the allegations before agencies constitutionally and statutorily empowered to investigate financial misconduct, abuse of office, criminal conspiracy and threats to electoral integrity.

The opposition parties urged the EFCC and ICPC to investigate any credible evidence of financial inducement, abuse of public office or political interference in the administration of elections in Imo State.

They also called for appropriate legal and disciplinary proceedings against any individual established to have participated in attempts to compromise electoral personnel, processes, technology or materials, irrespective of political affiliation, public standing or institutional position.

The petition Identified several issues which the coalition believes require independent verification and urgent investigation. These include:

Mass redeployment of Electoral Officers: The simultaneous redeployment of all 27 Electoral Officers across the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State, including the circumstances, rationale and implications of the exercise.

Alleged partisan influence in INEC personnel administration: Concerns over possible political interference in personnel changes within the Commission, particularly in its Information Technology Department in Imo State, as well as questions concerning the professional relationships of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Chukwuemeka Ibeziako.

Alleged compromise of BVAS and electronic result transmission: Reports of an alleged plan to undermine the transmission of polling unit results through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in selected polling units, with result sheets reportedly to be moved to designated centres before subsequent uploading.

Uncollected Permanent Voter Cards: Allegations concerning the disappearance or inaccessibility of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), prompting a demand for a comprehensive and independent audit of PVCs across all 27 LGAs.

Alleged political interference in ad-hoc staff recruitment: Concerns over possible partisan influence in the recruitment and selection of electoral ad-hoc personnel, including Presiding Officers, Collation Officers and Returning Officers.

Alleged financial inducement of Electoral Officers: A particularly serious allegation circulating within political circles suggests that US$20,000 was allegedly offered to each of the 27 newly redeployed Electoral Officers to secure their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The coalition is demanding that the claim be subjected to a thorough investigation.

Campaign for the removal of an INEC National Commissioner: The petition also drew attention to the timing of a campaign reportedly initiated by the Pan-Igbo Youth Assembly for the removal of INEC National Commissioner, Mr. Ken Nnamdi Ukeagu, urging that its circumstances and possible implications be examined.

The oppositeion coalition was careful to distinguish between allegations requiring investigation and facts established through due process. It maintained that the issues raised should neither be taken as conclusive findings nor dismissed as routine political disagreements, given their potential implications for electoral credibility and democratic stability.

The coalition expressed its willingness to furnish relevant information in its possession to assist any lawful investigation and called on individuals with verifiable evidence to make such information available to the appropriate authorities.

It further challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State to publicly reaffirm its commitment to the independence, neutrality and institutional autonomy of INEC, stressing that the credibility of the 2027 elections must not be compromised by partisan interests.

In its concluding submission, the coalition reminded the INEC Chairman that public confidence in the electoral process cannot be sustained by institutional assurances or official pronouncements alone. Rather, it must be demonstrated through transparency, accountability, impartial administration and strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The petition was jointly signed by Chief MacDonald Amadi, (ADC); Barr. Chuks Agbugba (LP); Amb. Steve Nnadi (APP); Comrade Lancelot Obiaku (PDP); Hon. Benneth Obiakor (YPP); Comrade Uchechukwu Ayozie (NDC); and other participating publicity secretaries of opposition political parties in Imo State.

The coalition's central demand is unequivocal: every allegation must be independently investigated, and anyone found to have participated in any attempt to undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections in Imo State must be held accountable under the law, regardless of political affiliation, influence or official position.