The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the
alleged move by the INEC to accommodate the
All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general
elections in Rivers state is one that casts
aspersions on the credibility of the electoral
umpire.
PDP said its position is predicated on the
“unacceptable and compromising suggestion by
INEC, through its National Commissioner and
Chairman of Information and Voter Education
Committee, Festus Okoye, that certain
circumstances could lead to the postponement of
election, in Rivers State, to accommodate the
APC, which currently do not have candidates in
the elections, following the quashing of its
congresses in the state by the Courtâ€.
In a statement by its spokesman, Kola
Ologbondiyan, The party said such suggestion by
INEC is distasteful.
PDP said the move is unjust and does not breed
confidence in the electorate as regards the ability
of INEC to deliver a free, fair and credible election
in Rivers state and across the nation.
Currently, the APC is not on the ballot and has no
candidates for the governorship, Senatorial, House
of Representatives and State Assembly elections
in Rivers and Zamfara states following the voiding
of the APC congresses in these states by the
court.
“In line with this reality, the ballot paper in all
elections in Rivers and Zamfara states must,
under no circumstance, bear the logo of the APC,â€
the PDP said.
The PDP insisted that INEC must base all its
actions and contemplations for the elections on
this reality and should under no circumstance
predicate any action on a hypothetical condition.
The party claimed that “Mr Okoye’s advocacy for
the APC detracts from the commission’s
neutrality†adding that it suggests a compromised
umpire.
The PDP charged the Chairman of INEC, Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, to be appropriately guided in
the conduct of the general elections, and called
on all Nigerians to unite in condemnation of all
cowardly schemes which will mar the credibility of
the coming polls.
Source:
www.channelstv.com/2019/01/20/2019-
pdp-rejects-inecs-alleged-move-to-
accommodate-apc-in-rivers/
