IMO GUBER: PDP CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REDEPLOYMENT OF INEC REC, OTHERS

 

Following the backdrop of the just concluded general elections and the abysmal performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State, the Peoples Democratic Party hereby calls for immediate redeployment of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Sylvia Agu and the 27 LGA Electoral Officers.

This request is in congruence with similar demands by some other concerned groups and organisations, such as the International Society for Civic Liberties and Rule of Law, lntersociety, in its letter to the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

 The group without equivocation demanded the transfers of the state INEC REC, Prof Sylvia Agu and her team of electoral officers, over  alleged involvement in electoral fraud in the last elections.

The conduct of the federal and state elections were spurious and most horrendous of all elections conducted in the history of democratic practices in the state. Prof Sylvia Agu and her team of Electoral Officers exhibited characters that were devoid of transparency and in deviance with established democratic norms. 

The reckless and inordinate practices of the team, culminated into the phantomic declaration of 26 out of 27 seats of the State House of Assembly in favour of the APC. A situation that has attracted nationwide condemnations. 

The March 11 state elections were characterized by unimaginable electoral heists such as abduction of INEC adhoc staff and doctoring of results under the watch of the Imo REC. 

There were reported cases where in the full glare of security agents, ballot papers were mass thumb printed and admitted by the INEC without passing through the BVAS machines. 

Most sordid among the sharp practices, were recorded cases where in connivance with electoral staff, results were allegedly written and declared in areas where elections did not take place, such areas included those prone to security challenges. 

These among others, were the sorry state of the general elections in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hereby rejects in entity, a repeat occurrence of the abuse and degradation of the principles and tenets of transparent electioneering, with emphasis on the forthcoming governorship elections. 

We are major opposition and stakeholders and can no longer sit aloof while our nascent democracy  is washed down the drain, by the conspiracies of some undemocratic and unprogressive elements. 

Recently, Prof Agu, in a meeting with lmo journalists, announced that over 2300, almost two and half battalion of soldiers will be deployed to monitor elections in the state. The questions are; why up to 2300? Are we going to war? Why should a mere civic exercise like election be so militarized?

 This number, does not include those of the police, civil defence, the DSS and litany of other security agencies operating in the state. Agu's INEC definitely has an ulterior agenda. Meanwhile the sour taste of the activities of the military in the last elections are still strong in our mouth and fresh in our hearts.

In the letter by lnternational Society for Civil Liberty and Rule of Law, to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, lntersociety added its voice in condemning the activities of Prof Agu and her team of 27 electoral officers and consequently demanded for their transfers away from the state. 

According to the organisation, the REC and her team must not be allowed to conduct the guber elections in the state, come November 11.

 The INEC chairman must listen to the voice of reason if he wishes to shore up the already damaged image of the commission over her sordid handling of the last general elections. 

The INEC REC today is seen by every Dick, Tom and Harry in the state as Uzodinma's appointee hence, do not have the confidence in her to conduct free, fair and credible elections devoid of compromise.

Again, lmo PDP in unequivocal terms demands the immediate dislodgement of this cartel of election conspirators set by Uzodinma to smuggle victory in his favour in the forthcoming governorship elections.

 We call on lmo stakeholders, the traditional institution, Religious Bodies, the academia, all lovers of democracy and good governance advocates, to join in this crusade, aimed at disloding this syndicated ploy to rig the elections and reinstitute a government that has brought more killings and untold hardship to lmolites than any previous government, not even the military. 

Signed

Mazi Emenike Nmeregini

Acting State Publicity Secretary