–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):
THE Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria Anambra State chapter (IPAC) has allegedly accused the APC candidate for November 6 Governorship election, Senator Andy Uba, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Army, the Police and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) of a grand plan to falsify the results of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
IPAC at a news conference in Awka on Tuesday alleged that Senator Andy Uba had recruited what it described as fake INEC officials whom IPAC said would clandestinely work under the cover of the police, army and DSS operatives to execute the plot to doctor the election results.
IPAC resolutions after an emergency meeting prior to the news conference which was signed by the 17 political parties participating in the Governorship election, noted that should INEC refuse or neglect to address the demands specifically raised in its resolutions, that IPAC shall upon the expiration 72 hours on behalf of the 17 political parties participating in the November 6 governorship election review its participation.
The Chairman of IPAC in Anambra Comrade Uche Ugorji who is also of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), who addressed the news conference stated that it became quite expedient and inevitable to let the general public know about what it saw as disturbing intelligence reports available to IPAC concerning the determined effort of the APC to connive with some senior officers of the Operations and ICT Departments of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to truncate a free and credible Governorship election in Anambra State.
Comrade Ugorji alleged that details of the plot to falsify Anambra Governorship election results include duplication of returning officers and that fake returning officers would be officially accredited with letters of appointments by INEC and to be allegedly assisted by specially detailed Police Officers, the Army and the DSS to submit and collate the fake results as if they were the authentic results from authentic returning officers.
IPAC noted with dismay that duplicate original result sheets have been procured clandestinely by the ICT and Operations officials of INEC with same serial cum identification numbers, including security code as it were with the original result sheets that ought to be used in the election.
The body further alleged that intelligence reports available to it also confirmed that the APC, acting with tacit collaboration of some senior INEC officials in the Operations and ICT Departments have perfected plans to falsify results in 92 electoral wards to the advantage of the APC to ensure the victory for its candidate in the Governorship election.
IPAC maintained that the specially recruited senior police officers, the Army and operatives of the DSS would be used to harass and intimidate agents and major stakeholders of other opposing political parties in the election.
It also added that the plan to truncate Anambra Governorship election entailed the use of operatives of the DSS and the police to track and confiscate election funds belonging to opposing political parties to ensure they were crippled of their legitimate election expenses.
IPAC however reminded INEC of the oath of neutrality in Form EC17 subscribed and deposed to by all officials charged with the conduct of general elections while insisting also that INEC owes it a duty to a free, fair and credible conduct of the governorship election in Anambra State.
IPAC’s resolutions as presented by the State Chairman reads: “That the names and photographs of all lawfully appointed and accredited collation cum returning officers to be used by INEC in collating and declaration of results of polls at every stage of the election must be published and made available to every political party participating in the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra state prior to the commencement of the polls.
“That all result sheets in form EC 8B and EC 8C must be initiated by at least two of the following namely, the national chairman of INEC, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner as well as the Police Inspector General.
“That INEC working in collaboration with the Police authorities and other security agencies must work out ways and means of detecting and eliminating the use of fake army and Police Officers in the conduct of the November 6 governyorship election in Anambra State.
“That INEC must to the satisfaction of all political parties participating in the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra State investigate the complicity of Senior officials of the Operations and ICT Departments of the INEC in the criminal printing of fake result sheets intended to be used to falsify the results of the election to the advantage of the APC candidate.
“That IPAC also needs explanations on why INEC intends to appoints two sets of returning officers as intelligence reports available to us confirm the intendment of using the second set of returning officers to falsify the results of the November 6 Governorship election in favour of the APC Governorship candidate.”
Reacting to the allegations made by IPAC, the Director Media and Publicity Andy Uba Campaign Organization Mr. Afam Ogene said Andy Uba is only a candidate and bound by the rules and guidelines governing the November 6 governorship election.
Ogene’s reaction reads: “What is the proof? Those IPAC Leaders, are their parties contesting the election? Unless I see specific allegations, I can’t be speaking for INEC, Army, Police. As for Senator Andy Uba, he is only a candidate and is bound by the rules and guidelines governing the election. No more, no less.”
Also, DSP Nkiru Nwode the Police Public Relations Officer in charge of the Governorship election told our correspondent via a telephone interview that the journalist does not expect her to dignify such allegations.
Meanwhile, several phone calls put across to the Head of Department Voter Education and Publicity INEC office Awka Mr. Samuel Nimen proved abortive as he did not respond to calls to defend allegations levelled against INEC.
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