Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Felix Hassan Hyat has raised the alarm over alleged plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to indulge in what he called “all manner of undemocratic, clandestine, and lawless activities aimed at rigging the rerun elections across the seven local government areas.”
The areas where the by-election would be held are Kaduna South, Chikun, Kauru, Igabi, Kudan, Kachia and Kagarko local government areas.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the chairman, Edward John Auta said, “The party is worried that the APC is determined to collude with some corrupt officials of INEC and the security agencies, yet again, to subvert the will of the people and declare the APC candidates as winners of the respective elections at all costs in all of the areas election is holding.”
The statement alleged that the PDP was reliably informed that the APC had perfected plans to buy votes or deploy thugs to unleash mayhem in the circumstances vote buying fails.
According to him, “We have confidence in the resolve of the new Resident Electoral Commissioner to organise a credible election and redeem the image of INEC.
“However, we have uncovered from insider sources that the APC is working with some corrupt INEC staff to obtain fake copies of Forms EC8A which will be used to concoct and enter predetermined polling unit results which will be swapped with the genuine ones in areas where the APC fails to win or is not comfortable with the margin of lead, while the security agencies provides them with the necessary cover.”
It claimed that in Makera, Igabi, and Kauru, the sacked speaker, alongside some senior government officials, were desperately seeking to rob the people of their votes again.
The statement urged the commissioner of police and all other heads of the relevant security agencies that would be deployed for the election to take note, and direct all their officers and men to be professional, patriotic, and impartial.
The PDP also called on INEC to work on all its staff that would be deployed for the election to exercise maximum restraint and shun any acts of manipulation that will further soil the already battered image of the commission.