The People’s Democratic
Party in Ekiti, on Sunday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission
of alleged plan to rig the Presidential and National Assembly elections in
favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The state PDP Chairman,
Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, who addressed a news conference at Afao Ekiti, the
country home of former Governor Ayo Fayose, alleged that INEC was slow in
withdrawing electoral materials earlier distributed for the polls before its
postponement.
Oguntuase also accused the
commission of having disparities in the electoral materials brought from its
headquarters in Abuja.
The chairman who said
materials for the conduct of the Presidential and Senatorial elections did not
get to the state until the wee hours of Saturday, said sensitive materials,
especially those for House of Representatives election were not complete.
He said: “There were no
result sheets for Ward (Form EC8B) and Local Government (EC8C) as well as
result sheets for final collation (Form EC8D) and announcement of final results
(Form EC8E).
“Also, there was excess
Polling Units Result Sheets (EC8A). The excess were more than two times the
number of polling units in Ekiti State.
“This is to say that each
of the Polling Units in Ekiti State has more than one result sheet.
“As at the wee hours of
Saturday; only electoral materials for the conduct of House of Representatives,
Presidential and South Senatorial elections were brought to Ekiti, leaving
those for Central and North Senatorial Districts.
“Immediately after the postponement,
instruction was given to INEC offices at the Local Councils to withdraw all the
materials already distributed and deposit same with the CBN, except the Card
Readers which they said needed to be reconfigured.
“Why did it take INEC
officials in some of the local governments until 7 p.m. to return the electoral
materials to the CBN office in Ado Ekiti, when directive to return the
materials was issued as early as 8 a.m. on Saturday?
“Consequently, we are
demanding that we be allowed by INEC and CBN to double-check all the electoral
materials, more particularly the sensitive materials.’’
The state party chairman
also expressed concern over alleged indiscriminate arrest and harassment of
members and supporters of the PDP by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad.
It said: “At about 1.00
a.m. on Saturday, over ten people, including lodgers were arrested at a hotel
in Are-Ekiti, owned by the Director General of the Atiku/Obi Presidential
Campaign Council in Ekiti State, Chief Dipo Anisulowo and were detained till
evening.
“Also, nine of our party
supporters, including the mother of our House of Representatives candidate in
Ekiti South Constituency (1), Segun Adekola were arrested in Igbara-Odo while
another supporter was arrested in Ilawe-Ekiti.’’
Refuting the allegations
that APC members were behind the attacks on PDP supporters, the Director
General, Buhari/Osinbajo campaign council in Ekiti, Dr Olusegun Osinkolu, said
the party had no reason to resort to anti-democratic means to win elections.
He said: “APC is on ground
in Ekiti. We did not attack anyone when we won governorship election here as an
opposition, Why should we now resort to such acts when we are the ruling party
in the state and at the federal level?
“PDP is just looking for
whom to blame for its impending woes. They should look inward and settle their
differences, rather than pointing accusing fingers at a wrong direction.’’
When contacted, the INEC
Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, however dismissed
the PDP allegations, saying all sensitive materials distributed in the state
had been withdrawn and kept at the CBN office in Ado Ekiti.
Gbadegesin said the
commission dispatched its vehicles and security men on Saturday to retrieve
ballot papers and result sheets across the state.
He said: “These allegations
are not correct. All the materials distributed on Friday have been withdrawn.
“As we speak, they are in
CBN for safe keeping while our smart card readers are here in our office,
because they have to be reconfigured.’’
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