The Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to compromise the forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections in favour of the ruling PDP.
Addressing a press conference yesterday at the party’s secretariat in Uyo, the state capital, the YPP chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, hinted that the YPP had received credible intelligence on the alleged plots to favour the ruling PDP in the state.
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Andy, therefore, implored the resident electoral commissioner (REC), Dr Cyril Omorogbe, to use his good offices to restore the confidence of the public and political parties participating in the elections.
Andy, who noted the protests and rejection of the results of the Presidential/National Assembly elections, recalled that the exercise was heavily manipulated and rigged by officials of INEC, to favour the PDP, vowing that his party would resist every attempt to rig the March 11 polls.
He said, “From credible intelligence, the State PDP with the officials of INEC, had since perfected plans to rig the forthcoming polls as follows:
“Voting materials meant for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency must not leave INEC office until 12.30pm on elections’ day.
“Voting materials meant for the entire Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District must not be complete in some Federal Constituencies and must not leave INEC office before 10.00 am.
“Voting materials meant for Eket Senatorial District must leave INEC office on time as it is the presumed sure-bet-zone for the PDP as the state governor hails from there. The early departure of materials for the district is to be well publicised to distract attention or disclaim any accusation about late transportation of materials to any other locations.
“PDP thugs in company of illegal police officers and some genuine military personnel will be drafted to strongholds of opposition parties to disrupt election through violence and destroy all the voting materials, and even pretend to kidnap some INEC officials so as to exonerate INEC from the deal.
“We are also alerted that some BVAS have been preset with figures in favour of PDP before commencement of voting. In such instances, the ‘0000’ on the BVAS will not be seen.
“Credible intelligence also has it that the State REC has been instructed to inflate the figures, during collation of results, in favour of PDP in a situation where the plan on the field did not materialize.”
However, the publicity secretary of the PDP, Comrade Borono Bassey, dismissed the allegation, saying it was “borne out of fear of imminent defeat because with the BIVAS, it’s not possible for any manipulation of results.”