2019: INEC reacts to PDP allegations to rig election

The Independent National electoral Commission, INEC, has reacted to the allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the electoral body of plans to rig the 2019 election.

The PDP in a statement on Monday insisted that the leadership of the INEC was under pressure to rig the 2019 general elections for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary claimed that INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood has been penciled down for the “Onnoghen treatment”.

He said due to this, INEC has allegedly been taking directives from the Buhari Presidency and the APC on how to manipulate our electoral process at various levels.h

Reacting to the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that less than two weeks to the general elections, the commission could not afford to be distracted by baseless allegations.

Oyekanmi said that the Commission was not a political party and would not allow itself to be dragged into unnecessary controversies at a time like this.

He said: “The INEC has been conducting general elections since the past 20 years.

“During this time, especially since 2010 and particularly from 2015, the commission has introduced many innovations to improve the electoral system.

“One of such innovations is to ensure that no member of any political party is engaged to participate in the conduct of elections.

“I, therefore, call on any political party or individuals with information on how the Commission plans to or has engaged members of any political party as ad-hoc staff for the upcoming general elections to make such information public and mention specific names.

“It is not enough to make wild allegations. It is incumbent upon those who make such allegations to also provide the proof.”

He assured that INEC would conduct free, fair and credible general elections, and for which it needed the support of all Nigerians.

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