The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of an alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Delta state to rig the forthcoming general elections in the state.
This was contained in a petition by the state APC to INEC, detailing “clandestine meetings” at its knowledge with a demand for immediate investigation.
The six-page document signed by the state publicity secretary of the party, E V. Onojeghuo Esq , informed the INECNational Chairman of nocturnal meetings of a Delta PDP Senatorial candidate with its officials “including Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, to subvert the 2023 General Elections in the State, through tampering with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BIVAS) machines, using financial inducement”.
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The opposition party in the state alleged that, “the plot that is presently on ground is to input predetermined figures into the BIVAS machines that will be deployed to the polling units, before the commencement of voting on elections day”.
The petition titled ”Petition to Alert the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) of the Grand Connivance to Rig the General Elections in Delta State by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through Tampering with BVAS Machines”, warned that “If the plot is allowed to fruition, the consequences will be devastating”.
Also contained in the petition is the report of an on-going mop up of PVCs from citizens in a bid to use same to vote by proxy.
The petition reads as follows:
“We write to humbly inform you of the grand connivance between INEC officials in Delta State and at the National headquarters, of the commission and PDP top officials, including Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, to subvert the 2023 General Elections in the State, through tampering with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BIVAS) machines, using financial inducement. If the plot is allowed to fruition, the consequences will be devastating.
“The plot that is presently on ground is to input predetermined figures into the BIVAS machines that will be deployed to the polling units, before the commencement of voting on elections day.
“It is on high gear, especially for the Presidential, Senatorial and Governorship elections. The already loaded figures will be credited to the PDP, to give the party a head start even before the elections begin.
“Already, a Senatorial Candidate of PDP is holed up at his LIFE CAMP, by LENTO ALUMINIUM, Abuja residence, where he holds nocturnal and clandestine meetings with INEC’s officials on how to subvert the operations of the BVAS machines in his senatorial district and the state, in general, to confer an undue advantage on PDP.
“The unscrupulous INEC officials have opted to perfect the nefarious mission and requested the notorious Senatorial Candidate, who is strong member of Governor Okowa’s inner circles to come up with a list of individuals, who would be trained to achieve the subversive results.
“Available reports indicate that the Senatorial Candidate, notorious for handling similar pervasive assignments in aid of PDP Governors of the state for self-enrichment in the past is currently recruiting other candidates of PDP in the February 25th and March 11th general election, to raise funds to placate INEC’s officials and consequently benefit from the nefarious scheme.
“Banking on the wishful success of the self-help, the Senatorial Candidate has abandoned campaigns aimed at persuading eligible voters in his locality.
“For these people, the forthcoming elections would be business as usual, in which they planned to subvert the wishes of Deltans to elect their leaders in a free and fair contest.
“Sir, it will interest you to know that just last weekend, the social media was saturated with reports that a serving Commissioner in the cabinet of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa hijacked the PVCs meant for eligible voters in Ewu Ward 1 in Ughelli South LGA of the state.
“Tongues are wagging that Commissioner acted in a premeditated motive to compel the owners of the PVCs to vote for her preferred Candidates in the elections in the locality.
“Information obtained at Asaba shows Governor Okowa and cronies are seriously collecting peoples PVCs and hoarding same across all LGAs.
“They have perfected plans to hack into the INEC’s server and vote by proxy using these PVCs in connivance with unscrupulous corps members and some INEC staff.
“There are litanies of unambiguous impunity by top officials of the state government and PDP’s bigwigs to truncate the patriotic intentions of INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections on February 25th and March 11th, 2023 in Delta State.
“This must not be allowed to happen. All parties must be given equal opportunity and a level-playing ground in the elections. This notification is therefore meant to alert the Commission’s Chairman to the clandestine manoeuvres of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Senatorial Candidate of his party, who rather than campaign, are right now in Abuja with bags of money, looted from the state to close the deal.
“The Delta State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has implicit confidence in the Chairman and other top echelon of the commission. We believe in you to conduct free and fair elections in Delta State.
“Anchored on this timely alert, you may please use your good offices to institute immediate investigation into this petition, to ensure that agents of destabilization do not have their way.
The Delta State Governor, who is also the vice presidential candidate of the PDP, has in the past 8 years turned his back on the people, thereby losing every support base of his party in the state.
“And knowing no means of winning back the confidence of the electorate, except through underhanded methods, has hatched this plot.
“We believe you will rely on this petition to prompt a thorough scrutiny of your officers, both at the commission’s headquarters and in Delta State, including the adhoc ones engaged for the elections.
“The APC believes in the tenets of democracy, and has gone around the state, for campaigns and sensitization, appealing for support and votes from the electorate, the party wouldn’t therefore want anything to sabotage the elections. Especially, unscrupulous agents of the PDP, whose belief is that anything can be bought, including staff of the commission.
“In this regard, BVA machines, equipment and other sensitive materials that would be deployed for the coming elections should be thoroughly cross checked and secured from interference, at the national headquarters and in the state, before deployment. No one should have the benefit of hijacking the electoral process.
“Consequent on the foregoing, we thank you for the anticipated cooperation, and do please accept the assurances of our highest esteem and undiluted respect.”
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