APC Alleges PDP Conniving With INEC To Manipulate Ongoing Voters’ Registration
…Calls for immediate deployment of INEC Head of ICT in Edo State
By Simeon OSAJIE
Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is conniving with Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) to manipulate the ongoing voters’ registration in the state and called for immediate deployment of INEC Head of ICT in Edo State.
The9JaTREND reports that State Publicity Secretary of APC, Prince Peter Uwadiae Igbinegie Esq., disclosed this at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State.
Uwadiae who raised this alarm said APC decided to bring to the notice of well-meaning Nigerians, the ignoble plans by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State to circumvent and rig the 2024 Governorship Election in the State using the forthcoming Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, exercise as a formidable platform.
According to him, “We have on good authority and from multiple sources that some gullible officials of INEC in most of the 18 local government areas that make up our state, have approached the outgoing Edo State government to provide them with ‘logistics’ for the CVR. In anticipation, these unpatriotic INEC officials have promised to allow the PDP unfettered access to INEC data capturing machines.
“The APC is also aware that the INEC officials have hidden under the guise of no adequate personnel for the exercise, to make frivolous complaints to the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki aimed at undermining the core mandate of the institution.
“Cashing in, the Governor has agreed with INEC to deploy the services of Edo teachers and civil servants in addition to members of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), as Ad Hoc staff. He has promised to bankroll their stipends after the CVR exercise.
“The APC is left in consternation that this compromising offer can be made to INEC inspite of the 2024 Federal budget which has adequately provided for INEC with regards to the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.”
Emphasizing that the APC is left in consternation that this compromising offer can be made to INEC inspite of the 2024 Federal budget which has adequately provided for INEC with regards to the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, Prince Uwadiae demanded for “immediate deployment of INEC Head of ICT in Edo State who APC alleging is working closely with a female INEC staff in Bayelsa State: She is the wife of a PDP chieftain Edo State.
“The strict compliance with the INEC designated venues for the CVR exercise which is the Ward Headquarters.
“Complete restriction of transfer of voters from neighbouring states during the CVR exercise.
“We reject the use of Obaseki uniformed thugs such as PUWOV, EDSTMA, State Security Network as security across the State. The Nigeria Police, the Civil Defence Corps and other paramilitary are better for this critical exercise.”
In his reaction over the allegations levelled against his party, the Director-General of PDP Campaign Council, Hon. Matthew said, “Last time the APC claimed that I have resigned my position as Director-General of PDP Campaign Council, and again, they carried false information the dissolution of Edo PDP Campaign Council, and today they are up again by alleging that my party is conniving with INEC to manipulate the ongoing voters’ registration exercise in the State.
“Let them continue to make noise while we are working on how to deliver our candidate and his deputy, Barr. Asue Ighodalo and Barr. Osarodion Ogie in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
“We are not INEC, we have no control over INEC. How can APC allege that my party PDP is manipulating INEC to do our bid in the ongoing voterss registration exercise? Nothing like that. They should go out and market their candidate to Edo electorates instead of making false allegations against PDP,” he concluded.
