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PDP charges INEC, security agencies to ensure free, fair poll

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja
18 November 2017   |   4:26 am
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all security agencies to ensure that today’s governorship election in Anambra State was devoid of irregularities.

Prince Dayo Adeyeye. PHOTO: NAN

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all security agencies to ensure that today’s governorship election in Anambra State was devoid of irregularities.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, yesterday in Abuja, the party made it clear that the Anambra election offers an opportunity to test how INEC would perform in the 2019 general elections.

The statement reads in part: “The Anambra State governorship election is a litmus test for INEC and another opportunity for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to redeem itself from the culture of impunity, inconclusive elections and rigging, as exhibited in previous elections in Edo and Ondo states and other by-elections in the country.”

The PDP also condemned the recent withdrawal of the personal security aides of Governor Willie Obiano, which the Police has since denied, adding: “Notwithstanding that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the reinstatement of the governor’s security aides, this recent action by the Police is a clear signal that it is working to favour some individuals in the state or destabilise the governorship election in Anambra State.”

The party warned that it would not accept any manipulation of results in Anambra State, noting: “The INEC and all security agencies deployed for the election must remain neutral and unbiased before, during and after the election.

“We insist that this election in Anambra State and others henceforth must be free, fair, credible and transparent. Anything short of these will not be acceptable to us.”

It called on the people of the state to protect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and come out en masse to vote, adding: “We also urge the electorate in Anambra to vote and stay to protect their votes from polling units to the collation centres.

The statement also called on all election monitors and observers to maintain vigilance during the period of the election, saying the success of the electoral process depends largely on the hard-work of observers and monitors exposing election riggers and vote thefts.

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