By Jeph Ajobaju
Collation (form EC8D), result (form EC8E) sheets, and other election materials are being hoarded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in states considered strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to the party.
The PDP alleged that certain INEC officials were working with agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to withhold the materials to facilitate fictitious results for President Muhammadu Buhari and APC National Assembly candidates.
A statement issued by the party said collation forms and result sheets have not been received for senatorial election in Abia, and result sheets for all elections have not been received in Delta and other states.
The statement was signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media & Publicity PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.
Ologbondiyan alleged that in Kano State
- Only 105 Senate result sheets have been received in Garko Council instead of 144.
- Rogo Council has received 106 Senate result sheets instead of 141.
- Danbatta Council has received 28 cartons of House of Representatives ballot papers instead of 29.
- Tofa Council has received 18 cartons instead of 19.
“This scenario is playing out in many other states,” the PDP alleged.
The party urged INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, to immediately release the materials to their designated points, and pledged not to allow anybody to use any means to rig it out in these elections.
“Yakubu must note that this serious infraction is already heightening tension and would eventually lead to serious crisis in affected states ahead of the election, if nothing is done to stem the trend,” it warned.
Ologbondiyan recalled that the PDP had alerted that Yakubu “is again succumbing to back-channel intimidation by the APC and the Buhari Presidency to accede to their rigging plot.”
He said the plot includes hoarding, and in some cases, delay in the distribution of sensitive materials meant for PDP strongholds as well as using APC agents as electoral officers.
The PDP urged Yakubu not to allow the APC to use him to derail the electoral process, “particularly after the disgraceful postponement of the February 16 elections.”
Nigerians are alert, it stressed, and they are noting the trend and will stand against attempts by the INEC and the APC to rig the elections.
