The national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies worked against the party during Saturday’s governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The party said this was why it performed woefully during the elections.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.
He alleged that the action of some employees of the electoral body and the security agencies indicated they were in a hurry to satisfy their incoming Commander-in-Chief.
Metin said, “We didn’t do well in the elections because INEC and security agents worked against us. It was as if they were in a hurry to satisfy and do the bidding of the incoming Commander-in-Chief.
“Look at what happened in states likes Plateau, Abia, Plateau, Imo, Zamfara, which are parts of our strongholds.
“Employees of INEC and security agents colluded with the opposition party to rob us of our victories.
In a statement he later issued, Metuh said the the elections were characterised by what he described as widespread irregularities supported by certain INEC and security officials to the advantage of the All Progressives Congress.
He wondered if such officials were intimidated by APC’s blackmail and propaganda to deliver its candidates in the polls.
He said, “Evidence abound of widespread irregularities across the country with INEC rejecting results from the strongholds of PDP candidates for no just cause while accepting the figures of those of the APC.
“In Lagos, Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Imo states, there are proofs of electoral manipulations ranging from underage voting, ballot stuffing and intimidation of PDP supporters to alteration of some aspects of the process in favour of APC.
“In Abia state, but for the outcry of the people and timely intervention of the INEC headquarters, which rejected the illegal cancellation of results from three local governments and strongholds of the PDP by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner even after they have been announced by the returning officers, the PDP would have been robbed of its well deserved victory in those areas.”
Punch.
