The Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed as untrue, allegations by the ruling
All Progressives Congress, APC, that the electoral umpire was working in
cahoots with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to short-change it in the
general elections.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC
Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said yesterday night, that the commission is not
a political party, explaining that the fate of APC in Zamfara and Rivers states
were as a result of judicial pronouncements.
He was reacting to allegation by
the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that two Resident
Electoral Commissioners, RECs, of INEC are campaigning side by side with the
PDP in the South-south, saying the Commission is grossly unfair to his party.
According to him, “It is not true
that the Independent National Electoral Commission is working hand in gloves
with any political party to do the wrong things. The issue of Zamfara and
Rivers are well known.
“In the case of Zamfara, the
Commission had written to the APC leadership to notify it that, due to its
inability to conduct its primaries in Zamfara State within the stipulated time
as required by law, the party cannot field candidates for the governorship
election. Thereafter, two cases were instituted in court resulting in two
rulings which were delivered the same day. The Commission then adopted one of
the rulings.
“In the case of Rivers, it was
the Supreme Court that took a final decision on the fate of APC. Therefore,
both cases were purely judicial and INEC, being a law abiding institution, will
always obey court orders/judgment.
“The Commission is not a
political party and does not have a candidate for the forthcoming general
elections. Our duty is to provide a level-playing field for all registered
political parties and ensure that elections are conducted in a free, fair and
transparent manner,” Oyekanmi told Vanguard.
On his part, INEC’s Director of
Publicity and Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi challenged the APC to furnish
the Commission with evidences of bias against the RECs. He said the commission
was preparing for Saturday’s elections and would not allow itself to be
distracted.
He said: “We will not join issues
with anyone but we have been accused by the PDP too. However, we do not want to
be distracted because we are focused on preparations for the elections. If they
have hard evidences, they can write to the Commission and attach the
evidences.”
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