The People Democratic Party (PDP) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to see the November 11 governorship election in the Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa States as an opportunity for the commission to redeem itself.
The party added that it will not accept any other means of transmitting results in these elections except through the full use of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) as pronounced by the INEC chairman in line with requirement of Electoral Act, 2022.
The PDP national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who stated this, yesterday at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, also demanded the immediate removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Professor Sylvia Agu.
The INEC chairman, Yakubu, had said the polling unit results of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states governorship elections will be uploaded on its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Mr Yakubu said this while speaking with journalists at Ward 009, LEA School, Ganaja Village, Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi.
He was in the state to monitor the mock accreditation exercise ahead of the 11 November governorship elections in the three states.
Reacting however, Ologunagba said, “The PDP has noted the statement by INEC Chairman that INEC will make full use of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal for uploading and electronic transmission of results in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States.
“The PDP notes that the INEC Chairman has confirmed that the use of BVAS and IREV in this election and even in previous election is a mandatory statutory requirement of the law.
“The PDP holds INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu directly responsible and accountable to his pronouncements and that INEC is bound by law to electronically transmit results directly from the polling units using these technologies.
“The PDP is fully prepared for these elections and in line with the commitment of INEC will not accept any other means of transmitting results in these elections except as this manner pronounced by the INEC Chairman in line with requirement of Electoral Act, 2022.”
The party spokesman also called for the sacking of the REC in Imo State.
Ologunagba said the PDP, as well as other political parties have lost confidence in Agu, ahead of the November 11 Imo governorship poll.
While noting PDP’s confidence in winning in the election through its candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, he said INEC must guide against the controversy that trailed the last Adamawa governorship election.
“The PDP for the umpteenth time demands for the immediate removal of the Imo State INEC REC, Prof. Sylvia Agu. The PDP and other political parties had written several letters to INEC. Recently the political parties including the PDP, LP, YPP, ADC, AA among others staged a peaceful protest to INEC demanding for her immediate removal.
“The continuing stay in office of Prof. Sylvia Agu as Imo REC is provocative, inciting and amounts to testing the Will of the people of Imo State and daring them to do their worse.
“INEC has a lot of RECs from which the INEC Chairman can choose to replace Prof. Sylvia Agu, “he stated.
Ologunagba also said PDP is fully prepared for the Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi gubernatorial elections.
He said there is no doubt that Bayelsa governor, Douye Diri will clinch a second term owing to his outstanding performance.
“Timipre Sylva has no fighting chance before Governor Diri whose unprecedent achievements have endeared him to the people.”
He added that the party has commenced training of its polling agents at all levels to ensure total compliance to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended) Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Regulations especially as confirmed by the INEC Chairman.
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