INEC denies plot to rig after Sokoto REC removed
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Rumour of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the police to rig the governorship election in Kebbi has been dismissed by the Commission.
State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Aminu Bande made the allegation at a news conference in Birnin Kebbi.
Bande alleged the INEC, in collaboration with the police, is conniving with the APC to conduct the governorship vote without Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He alleged ballot papers would be given to the APC on the eve of the election to be thumb printed for use on Election Day.
But INEC Kebbi Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Muhammadu Rabi’u, countered the allegations are false, as the use of BVAS is compulsory by law, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“BVAS must be used in all elections in Nigeria henceforth and it will continue to be used until a more improved technology is obtained,” he said.
“I am assuring you that there is no such thing and there will be no single polling unit across the state that will conduct elections without BVAS.
“Any attempt from any quarters or from any of our ad hoc staff to conduct an election without BVAS, definitely, we shall prosecute him/her.
“Anybody from outside who feels he can connive with any of our staff to do so, I am very sorry, we will not let that person go free; he/she must be prosecuted.”
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Handling sensitive INEC materials
Rabi’u said ballot papers are part of sensitive materials in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and assured agents of all political parties and security agencies must be present before the distribution of such materials, per Daily Post.
“All sensitive materials are in CBN for safe keeping, before we go for it, we have to call the police and the political parties to go there together on the same day at the same time.
“INEC will not do anything without the security agencies and political party agents.
“Automatically as an agent of a political party, you are an ambassador of that party, therefore, it’s your responsibility to oversee and ensure that the right thing is done.
“So, such a thing is not possible and we are not conniving with anybody to do any evil.”