• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Election: DSS summons Ibeanu, Head of INEC Operations and Logistics

DSS

Ahead of the Saturday rescheduled elections, the Department of State Services(DSS) has allegedly summoned Okey Ibeanu, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Operations and Logistics.

It has been gathered that Ibeanu’s invitation by the Secret Police is not unconnected with last Saturday’s postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections in which he was alleged to have vehemently objected to the staggered elections option orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Reports says, “INEC National Commissioner Prof Okey Ibeanu has just been invited by the State Security Services to their offices tomorrow. He is to appear at 2pm.

“His invitation may be connected to #NigeriaDecides2019 and it is  believed it is all about intimidating him and INEC. In the past week, his house in Enugu was broken into, his car also and his laptop and IPAD vanished mysteriously”.

When contacted, Peter Afunanya, DSS Director of Media he denied knowledge of any invitation of  Ibeano by the DSS as he said ” I am not aware of anything like that”.

Also, while Ibeanu could not be reached for confirmation, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman simply told journalists that, “I am not aware”, when contacted on the issue.

Ibeanu alleged invitation by DSS is coming on the heels of heavy accusations laid against INEC by the ruling APC during its expanded National Caucus held on Monday in which the Electoral body was accused of working with the main oppositnion Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the detriment of APC.

Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman, in a communiqué at the end of the National Caucus attended by President Muhammadu Buhari expressed deep grieve against INEC.

He said, “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.

“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 must 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”, APC Chairman said.

 

James Kwen & Innocent Odoh, Abuja