The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of conniving with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to register millions of underaged voters in Kano and Kastina States, respectively, ahead of the 2019 Presidential election.
The PDP made this revelation in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
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This was in reaction to INEC’s position on the current videos and pictures littered the on social media platforms, showing underaged persons voting in Kano and Katsina States.
According to Ologbondiyan, the videos and pictures show underaged persons thumb-printing ballot papers and casting their votes during last Saturday’s Local Government elections in Kano State.
The PDP condemned INEC for attempting to cover its complicity in the “widespread impunity recorded”.
The party said it was INEC that conspired with APC to register the minors as voters in the first place.
Ologbondiyan said that as such, the Commission should not in any way attempt to exonerate itself of involvement in the electoral fraud, simply because it did not directly conduct the elections.
“Is it not INEC that registered the minors and issued them with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to participate in elections, as clearly documented in the Kano Council Election.
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“Can INEC truly acquit itself as the original culprit who set the stage for the eventual participation of the minors and overall rigging of the elections”, he stated.
He revealed that INEC should not give lame excuses or exonerate itself at a time it should be taking decisive steps to protect the sanctity of its sensitive materials such as the PVC.
“Indeed, if this INEC is serious about the sanctity of sensitive electoral materials, by now, it should have ordered the immediate review of its voter register in Kano and Katsina States.
“INEC is supposed to be fishing out and prosecuting those who registered the minors and clean up the electoral system in the affected States.”
He accused INEC of allowing itself to be used for irregularities in favour of the ruling party.
This, according to the party, was witnessed in last Saturday’s Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency Supplementary election, in Katsina State.
“Finally, we want INEC to note, and in very strong terms too, that Nigerians will not accept anything short of credible, free and fair general elections.
“The Commission should therefore, ensure that it does not allow itself to be used by the APC against the will of the people, particularly in the 2019 elections, as such will be highly resisted.”
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