PDP tasks INEC on publication of adhoc staff, says returning officers populated by APC members

“The PDP vehemently rejects this wicked plot by the Buhari Presidency, which is tailored to ensure institutional manipulation of the electoral process, including accreditation, voting and collation of results at the polling units, which is the base of the elections. The PDP holds that by following the directive of the APC in such dubious rigging scheme, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has violated section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act (as amended) and shows that he is in clear deficit of the required political will to conduct a credible, free and fair election”

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the chairman of Independent National Election(INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmood to publish names of the adhoc staff and returning officers that will play any form of role in the 2019 election at all levels for verification by stakeholders, adding that any delay or refusal by INEC to publish the list with 48 hours would be a clear acceptance that it has been compromised by the APC with potentials for dire consequences.

Director, Media & Publicity PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO), Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan who made the allegation at a press conference said the PDP is already privy to how the lists were populated with APC members and agents of the APC candidates, after clearance by the APC leaders in various states.

“The PDP vehemently rejects this wicked plot by the Buhari Presidency, which is tailored to ensure institutional manipulation of the electoral process, including accreditation, voting and collation of results at the polling units, which is the base of the elections. The PDP holds that by following the directive of the APC in such dubious rigging scheme, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has violated section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act (as amended) and shows that he is in clear deficit of the required political will to conduct a credible, free and fair election”, the party said, adding that it is saying it in the light of the boasting by agents of the Buhari Presidency and the APC to give the INEC Chairman what they describe as the “Onnoghen treatment”, and frame him, if he fails to comply with their rigging plans.

He said PDP wants Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that the fate of “our nation lies in his hands. It is left to him to decide whether he would end as a national hero or as a villain”, the PDP said.

Furthermore, the PDP called on the international community to place the INEC Chairman, Directors and Commissioners in INEC responsible for this election on their watch list and proceed to impose travel ban on them as well as hold them directly responsible should there be any form of rigging in the February 16, 2019 Presidential elections.

The PDP also directed all its members, teeming supporters and all well meaning Nigerians across the nation to get ready to vote out President Buhari and protect their votes with all the energy available to them in the defence of our democracy and freedom as a people.

“If President Buhari believes he is popular, he should make himself available for a free, fair, transparent and credible election. Anything short of this is completely unacceptable to Nigerians”, the PDP said.