The All Progressive Congress (APC) Bauchi State Chapter, has demanded for the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Bauchi State, Muhammed Nura for allegedly conniving with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
The party is equally demanding for the unconditional redeployment of the Administrative Secretary of the Commission, saying the two officials were culpable in the irregularities that trailed the February 25 Presidential Election in the state
Chairman of the APC in the state, Babayo Aliyu Misau, made the demands on Tuesday in a press briefing in Bauchi, saying the party has lost confidence in the management team of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State
“From the results so far released, it is obvious that the electorate in Bauchi State have confidence in our great Party. APC which created panic in the ruling PDP in the State,” he said.
“However, we must condemn in totality, the cunning move made by the PDP Government in Bauchi State to compromise the security and INEC ad-hoc electoral officers in most of the Polling Units across the State.
“For instance, under the INEC guidelines for the 2023 General Elections, ad-hoc Staff are required to be effectively trained on how to operate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) device and to as well, preside over elections at polling units.
“We have witnessed in some Local Government Areas of Bauchi State where the INEC trained ad-hoc staff were replaced with certain card- carrying members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who apparently manipulated the election process in favour of their party.
“Thus, they have, in some Polling Units, illegally cancelled the Elections in APC controlled polling Units caused deliberate malfunctioning of the BVAS machines, mutilated sensitive election materials, etc. We strongly condemn the PDP interference in that regard and shall take up the matter appropriately.
“It is worthy of note that under a Memorandum of Understanding subscribed between INEC and NYSC, all Presiding Officers at Polling Units must compose of Youth Corps members.
“The corps members earmarked for the exercise in Bauchi State fell short of the number of Polling Units we have in the State”
The APC alleged that the PDP Governmen used its machineries and traditional ruiers to threaten the beneficiaries of conditional cash transfer programmes by seizing their Beneficiary Cards until they vote for PDP Candidates against their wishes.
“The PDP has also threatened other Federal Government beneficiaries of similar programmes like the N-Power, Trader- Money, Food Vendors etc. to vote for its candidates or seize to be such beneficiaries,” the Chairman alleged.
“This act of compelling electorate is grievous and against the fundamental rights, freedom and franchise of Nigerian Citizens.
“While we condemn such ill-conduct, we call on all beneficiaries of Federal Government people-oriented programmes not to succumb to any such threat as the Bauchi State PDP Government has no say in determining the beneficiaries of such laudable programmes of’ President Muhammadu Buhari”
“In view of the foregoing, we, as a political party, categorically disapprove of the entire management team of INEC in Bauchi State for failing to insist that the right thing is done at the right time and for failing to resist the PDP Government in Bauchi State. As we all know, there can never be any compromise without the compromise of INEC management in Bauchi State”
Misau, who was represented by the Legal Adviser of the party in the state, Barrister Rabiu Garba, explained that the two officials should be redeployed to ensure transparency and safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process.
“We unconditionally demand INEC to immediately disengage all of the illegal Presiding Officers and replace them with the genuinely trained Youth Corps members in line with the terms contained in the said MOU between INEC and NYSC,” the chairman said.
“We unconditionally demand that INEC must ensure that all of its ad-hoc staff are sufficiently trained before the next election of March, 11, 2023 to avoid the occurrence of unnecessary and deliberate irregularities capable of undermining the sanctity of the election process.”
