The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum faulted.the Independent National Electoral Commission preparedness for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
The governors, at an interactive session with the media and civil society organisations in Lagos on Tuesday, also kicked against the use of card readers for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
Before the interactive session titled ‘Sustenance of Democratic Values and National Development,’ ended, It was learnt that INEC had summoned leaders of all the political parties in the country to a meeting on Thursday over the polls.
As if acting a script with its governors, the PDP also on Tuesday sent a letter to the electoral body detailing its observations on Saturday’s Card Readers mock in 12 states.
The governors at the Lagos forum were Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Bala Ngilari (Adamawa); Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).
Others were Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna) and Ibrahim Danwambo (Gombe).
The PDPGF usually holds its meetings in Abuja or any PDP state but this time round they chose Lagos, a stronghold of the opposition All Progressives Congress for the interactive session.
Akpabio, who is the chairman of the PDPGF, said Lagos was chosen because it is the headquarters of the media and activism in Nigeria.
Akpabio said that Lagos had been plagued by the propaganda of the APC and that the PDP wanted to showcase its achievements in the city.
He said the postponement of the elections were justifiable. Although the governors did not canvass for the use of Temporary Voter Cards, they maintained that people who do not have Permanent Voter Cards should be allowed to vote.
Akpabio said Nigerians should be grateful to the PDP for ensuring that the country had the longest span(16 years) of democracy.
He said, “The continued quest of the PDP-led Federal Government for free, fair and credible elections is witnessed in President Goodluck Jonathan’s robust support through adequate and sustained funding as well as the free hand given to INEC to operate.
“But surprisingly, in our own opinion, INEC appears ill-prepared for the 2015 elections. For example, at the time the polls were shifted due to security concerns, over 23 million registered voters had yet to collect their PVCs and you know there are some countries with populations of about just three million.
“Twenty-three million would amount to disenfranchising more than five West African countries in their own elections.
“It will be recalled that even the INEC chairman(Prof. Attahiru Jega) admitted on the floor of the Senate that over one million PVCs had yet to be printed in far away China.
“According to the INEC chairman, the postponement was a blessing in disguise. How then can Nigerians reconcile the purported readiness of INEC for the February 14 election with the testing of card readers more than a month after the postponement? More than three weeks after the elections have been shifted, they are then testing the card readers that would have been used. Given the failure rate of the card readers during the recent mock exercise, it is apparent that many Nigerians will be disenfranchised even when they are registered to vote.
“We re-assert that on no account should any registered voter be disenfranchised for non-possession of PVC even when the person has a TVC when it is not due to one’s own personal fault; even when the card reader has rejected or refused to recognise the thumbprint or the battery is dead and there is no electricity in that area to charge it.
“We don’t want anyone disenfranchised and we are pleading also that elections should not be shifted again because the impression is that we were not ready for elections even though we know that we would have won the elections if they had been allowed to hold.”
Also, Imoke said prior to 2011, Jega was seen as a man of integrity and that was why he was appointed by Jonathan.
He, however, said recent happenings in INEC were beginning to prove otherwise.
Imoke said no one should be disenfranchised on account of the PVC or card reader.
He said, “The facts are before us. The testing of card reader and its failure have not been addressed. PVCs remain unprinted as we speak. INEC has no right whatsoever to disenfranchise any Nigerian.
“I will appreciate it if the media can focus on this issue. I will not want to go to a polling unit and be told that as a result of no fault of mine, my card was rejected. My picture is on my PVC, it looks like me and it is me but because the card reader cannot recognise my fingerprint, I will not be allowed to vote?
“So for us, it is important that we understand democratic values and appreciate that the values of democracy rest squarely on equity and the right of every Nigerian to participate in the process of selecting their leaders.”
Jang, who is the chairman of a faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said he had not been able to collect his PVC.
He said that it was ironic that INEC was insisting on the use of card readers when its chairman had said last year that the card readers would be tested before being used for major elections.
While reading a message alongside Akpabio, he said, “I received a text message from someone this(Tuesday) morning and it reads, ‘During a meeting with a team from the United States last year, Jega had said card readers would not be used for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections because they were too crucial to be used for experiments.
“INEC said the card readers would be tested in by-elections but now INEC is insisting on using card readers for elections. Are governorship elections of two states more crucial than a presidential election?
“I don’t even have a PVC. What happens if my PVC does not find its way to Plateau State before the elections?”
The governors said Nigerians should not be deceived by the mantra of change propagated by the APC.
Akpabio said the APC Presidential candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), truncated democracy under the guise of fighting corruption but only ended up arresting Nigerians arbitrarily.
He said Buhari had returned with the same issue of corruption, which according to him, is deceitful as those campaigning for him are extremely corrupt.
While responding to a question from journalists over the use of government-owned jets for party campaigns, Jang said democracy was for the rich in most parts of the world and people needed such luxury for protection.
He said, “All over the world, democracy is for the rich. Even in the US, congressmen and senators are rich. You cannot become the President if you are not a millionaire.
“If I leave my house without security, there is no guarantee that I will get back home safely because as a governor, you would have offended some people.”
Governor Aliyu said the APC presidential primary of last December was not won by Buhari but his victory was paid for with money. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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PDP governors are you afraid of 28 march, either u like it or not we will surely vote for GMB bcos he is the right person Nigeria need we will vote for him, only corrupted people like the all of u does not want him to be our president, Mr Mumu Jang, did u know even your tribes people doesn't want u, u are the one created crisis in plateau state, u show tribalism to the people of plateau state, u took only birom people and leave the others in hunger, Hausa, jarawa, angas, Yoruba and Igbo this people is living in plateau state why did u leave them and choose only one group and then u came out and saying rubbish, i don't know how stupid the others governors is given u their chairman, do u think we will accept u again no, INEC is ready for 28 election only u corrupted people are not ready, they are scared of GMB talking about corruption in his campaign hahaha PDP governors sai Baba GMB “march4buhari"
ReplyDeleteYou are day dreaming. PDP is only being patriotic not selfish. The concerns raised are germane and the party does not want opposition to exploit these loopholes to challenge her victory. I challenge APC to openly declare that the will accept the outcome of he election despite these flaws pointed out by PDP. March 28 is for PDP, Nigeria are ready in practical term to return GOOD LUCK to consolidate on his steady achievement so and not for another government to truncate it and return us to square one.
DeleteAnybody that argue with you may be seen as with low IQ as you are, how will PDP win this election? Where have visited few states during this electioneering one in the north and Lagos, and Enugu have listen to people one on one not on tv or radio which so people might call propaganda and all l can say without fear or favour is that if this election hold GMB will definitely win if you think am lying take an opinion polls yourself in your area then you will understand what am saying.
DeleteINEC please lets conduct this elecyion so that Nigeria and Nigerians can move on. #bringbackourgirls
ReplyDeleteAkpabio pls shut up. Are you saying nigerian should be grateful for the hardship pdpigs imposed on us, we are tired. All of you must go. We can not wait until exchange rate will kill our businesses totally. Enough of this torture. We want change .
ReplyDeleteChange is coming ,we should be prepared.PDP governors more Nigerians are tired of this party called PDP.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of all truly patriotic and sincere Nigerians, I give all the glory to the almighty God for the way things are evolving since it's now obvious to all Nigerians that only the almighty God can indeed deliver Nigerians from the GEJ/PDP Cabal that now holds Nigeria and Nigerians at the jugular.
ReplyDeleteWith the current onslaught of PDP led government and all it's cohorts and against the will of Nigerians into holding truly free, fair and credible elections, it is now only the almighty God that can indeed deliver Nigerians from this GEJ/PDP Cabal.
Is it not also surprising that PDP and it's cohorts have not been able to come up with suggestions on how INEC can achieve the so-envisaged successful use of the Card Reader to ensure it's use for these forthcoming elections. Dia ris God oooo....
First, GEJ/PDP never had the intention in holding truly free, fair and credible elections. That is why GEJ/PDP never ever encouraged Nigerians to go get their PVCs in the first instance.
With the advent of the Ekitigate Tapes, it became obvious that without PVCs, GEJ/PDP riggers cannot proceed anywhere but with the option of cloned PVCs.
Now they want to convince Nigerians not to allow use of Card Readers when it's the only device that can detect cloned PVCs, can anyone beat this line of argument.
It's finally obvious to all truly patriotic and sincere Nigerians that, GEJ/PDP and their cohorts are the enemies of Nigeria and indeed all Nigerians.
As I watch all their propagandas on the TV and listen them on Radio, it became obvious to me that the Almighty God wants to prove to all Nigerians that He, the great and mighty deliverer, He is the only one that can indeed deliver Nigeria and Nigerians from these cohorts of evil people, these cohorts of wolves in sheep clothing, these cohorts of people that profess God but deny the power thereof, these cohorts of people that only profess God with their mouths, but deny the very existence of same God in their hearts and by their actions. These cohorts of unintelligent pathological liars. These cohorts of barbaric individuals and backward generations. These evil enemies of National progress and development.
Nigerians, let's all be resolute, No PVC, No Voting, No Card Reader, No Voting. 28th March and 11th April 2015 shall be achieved and no gate of hell shall prevail against them, not even GEJ nor FFK nor Governor Fayose.
God will indeed wipe out all their generations from the face of this very earth in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen.
INEC should please ensure it provides enough card readers during the polls as repeatedly promised.
ReplyDeleteMessage to GEJ/FFK/PDP/Fayose and their various cohorts, "TIME FOR ELECTION RIGGING IN NIGERIA IS OVER", “No PVC, No Election; No Card Readers, No Election”.
The INEC had consistently demonstrated it's readiness for forthcoming general elections, by conducting a field test on card readers which was successful according to officials.
Let Nigeria move forward PLEASE!!!!!!!.
Dia Ris God oooooo.....
He said, “All over the world, democracy is for the rich. Even in the US, congressmen and senators are rich. You cannot become the President if you are not a millionaire.
ReplyDelete“If I leave my house without security, there is no guarantee that I will get back home safely because as a governor, you would have offended some people.” Can you hear a governor speak". God ll judge u according to the works of thy hand IJN.
I thought I was the only one who saw that blunder. May God rescue Nigeria from these thieves.
DeleteHahahahahaha. It's too late for pdpigs governors or whatever u called urself. We need change of govt bcos for 16yrs ie, 1999 when pdpigs have been in control of power till now, nothing good come out from it. The only good thing dat come out from it is corruption, stealing our money and turning d country to a place of hardship. Nigerian is suppose to be progressing and it's retrogressing bcos of d cluesless, nefarious and callous leaders we have. INEC is ready for elections, it's pdpigs dat is not ready bcos they know dat they will fail woefully. Jonathief said he fulfilled 2011 promises so someone should ask why his he afraid of election? I taught he will not come back for 2nd tenure dat is why he crippled d economic and make things to go from good to worst. All working sectors went on strike during jonathief govt. He also went ahead to sell nepa. Inflation is high bcos of d increase in the price of our products. All the refinery we have no one is working. Within 1983 and1985 GMB built Kaduna and portharcourt refinery, but none of them is working till today. Jonathief govt is d worstest i have ever seen. Change is inevitable. We need change to wipe out dis corrupt, impious and clueless govt of jonathiefs. Sai Baba. Sai Buhari. March for Buhari.
ReplyDeleteNo pvc no vote,no card reader no vote.Time for election rigging are over.People must be allowed to honestly make their choice come March,28 2015.Vote according to your conscience.
ReplyDeleteAs a young man with humble background, many of us expected GEJ to fix Nigeria but negative is the case, that is why many of Nigerians demanding for change in government, by the grace of God this change will start now, come March 28, i will mobilize all in my community to vote GMB as the president, the way i did for GEJ last election. am not a politician but a patriotic citizen. GOV. ISAH YUGUDA WAS NOT AMONG THESE GOVERNORS. WHY?
ReplyDeleteDemocracy is for the rich? What is this empty-head governor talking about? Jang has to be a fool to say what he said. PDP does not care about people being disenfranchised. They just want to rig the election, full stop! That's the only way they know to win. Use of card readers will deny PDP victory. That's why they are against it, including all their governors. Isn't this a shame that the ruling party doesn't want things done right? Rigging, Rigging, Rigging, that's all they know how to do. They steal all the money from public funds and want to use it to rig themselves back into office. By God's grace it will not happen again this time around. The country has had enough of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is not surprising that the PDP governors are kicking against the use of card readers because they fear that the device will minimize their chances of rigging the elections for themselves or those they have anointed to takeover from them. Shameless looters!!
ReplyDeleteCard readers bought by the PDP federal government with our money must be used for the purpose for which they were bought.
Yes oh.
ReplyDelete