The People Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning to print ballot papers and result sheets with which to rig the Saturday, March 19, re-run elections in Rivers State.
The revelation is contained in a statement released by Mr Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah
The PDP also said it has uncovered a list of election officers, returning officers, and other adhoc-staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) completely made up of APC card-carrying and active members.
The PDP is therefore calling on INEC not to use the list for the re-run election as it will compromise the standard of the election.
According to the PDP, the APC has brought into Rivers State from Lagos a printing press called ‘Sam Printing Press’ which will be used in printing all printable sensitive and non sensitive electoral materials for the re-run elections in the State, and which some APC members have been assigned and to be lodged in a hotel in Port Harcourt and Owerri, the Imo State capital, to fill the result sheets with already decided scores that could be announced by a compromised INEC official at the stipulated time.
The PDP believes that the apparent relaxed mode of the APC leaders and candidates not to carry out any serious campaigns in the State is a confirmation of their plot to rig the elections with the aid of the military, armed youths in camouflage military uniforms and fake results.
The Party also noted that the coming of the APC Acting National Chairman, Chief Segun Oni, to Rivers State was part of the grand plot to rig the elections, ignite crisis in the State and that the APC has resolved not to spare anything to chance but to use the federal might and illegal means to secure all the elective seats in the elections.
The PDP warned all APC leaders and members to have a re-think on their plan to rig or manipulate the elections as all of such efforts will be in futility.
The party reiterated its disposition for a free and fair election, warning that any efforts aimed at rigging the March 19 re-run elections in the State will be resisted by the masses.
It further called on the security agencies, particularly the police to be on alert and to checkmate the activities of the APC in the state.
The PDP also wants the international community to prevail on the leadership of the APC and the federal government not to militarize the State during or after the election, and that INEC staff should be neutral in carrying out their election duties.
•Photo shows Bro. Obuah.
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.