• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Election: APC accuses INEC of using PDP members as adhoc staff

Buhari-APC

Ahead of the Saturday rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of using card carrying members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as adhoc staff in the last Saturday postponed polls.

APC expressed curiosity over the fact that certain leaders of PDP had full knowledge of the plan to postpone the elections several hours before INEC made the announcement while the ruling APC and President Muhammadu Buhari remained aloof of the issue.

Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman stated this Monday while addressing journalists at the end of meeting of the APC Expanded Caucus in Abuja.

Oshiomhole said the Caucus resolved that, “the Party leadership expressed deep regrets over the unfortunate death of party members due to stampede as a result of overwhelming crowds during the presidential campaigns in some parts of the country.

“The Caucus received with shock and disbelief the last minute postponement of the February 16 elections. The Party reiterated its disappointment over this unfortunate action, considering especially, the repeated assurances by INEC that all challenges would be overcome before the February 16th elections.

“Notwithstanding the disappointment over the postponement, the Caucus urged all APC members across the country to rise above this temporary setback and recommit themselves to working with redoubled efforts for the victory of all our candidates in the February 23rd and March 9th dates for the elections.

“The Caucus urged all APC members to immediately commence campaigns in line with the Provisions of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, which states clearly that campaigns shall stop 24 hours to the elections. Our party would therefore abide by the provisions of laws.

“Observed that the list of presiding officers in the States and Local Government Areas published by INEC prior to the aborted February 16 elections contained names of mostly the PDP card carrying members and urged INEC to take steps to correct this anomaly to ensure fairness and credibility of the electoral process.

“The Caucus urged the security agencies to step up their activities by ensuring that all those involved in violence, ballot box snatching, and falsification of results should face the full weight of the law.

“Resolved that the February 23rd election date remain sacrosanct. Issues of logistics and other foreseeable challenges must be addressed to ensure the elections do not suffer any hitch whatsoever.

“The Caucus expressed curiosity over the fact that certain leaders of PDP had full knowledge of the plan to postpone the elections several hours before INEC made the unfortunate announcement. The Caucus therefore urged INEC to demonstrate its independence and neutrality beyond doubts in all of its activities before, during and after the period of elections”.

 

James Kwen, Abuja