Says, ‘REC contracted Deputy VC to recruit APC members as SPOs
… Calls for redeployment of REC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation, in Bayelsa State, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to call the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Monday Udoh, to order to prevent giving the electoral body a bad name.
The call followed what the PDP said was a shocking discovery that the commission in the state has published a list of Supervisory Presiding Officers which was handed over to them by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in a desperate bid to rig the governorship election slated for November 16.
Speaking to newsmen, in Yenagoa, the Director, Media and Publicity of the Senator Douye Diri Campaign Organisation, Hon. (Dr.) Jonathan R. Obuebite, said the APC contracted the Deputy Vice Chacellor òf the Federal University, Otuoke, to supply the APC members as SPOs to subvert the election
Obuebite called on the INEC national chairman to prevail on the REC to withdraw the list without delay in the interest of peace and engage the services of neutral and credible SPOs from institutions outside the state.
He said that the electoral body has a responsibility to assure the Bayelsa people by its actions that it was prepared to conduct free, fair and credible election.
“Bayelsans and Nigerians have seen that with what has just happened, the APC is not ready for a free, fair and credible election, but I am not surprised because they have a penchant for illicit behaviours during electioneering period.
“All they have always been known for is to truncate, undermine and subvert the will of the people.
“I therefore call on the INEC chairman to caution the Bayelsa State REC as it is glaring that his relationship with the APC to work against the PDP will further tarnish the reputation of INEC.
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“I also call on the International Community and all security agencies to be aware of what the REC in Bayelsa State is doing to jeopardise the forthcoming governorship elections in the State.
“I can recall that during the last general election, this same REC was seen in the same car with Barr. Dennis Otiotio, a leader of the APC, and they drove to Bassambiri where electoral materials and personnel were hijacked and the results written in a hotel.
Obuebite added that the PDP is demanding the immediate removal of the State REC who according to him has lost the credibility having shown an unacceptable level of bias to carry out a free, fair and credible election in the state.
He stressed that the REC has portrayed himself as a man lacking in integrity and undeserving of the sensitive responsibility put on his shoulders.
He appealed to INEC to deploy RECs and commissioners of proven integrity with a reputation for impartiality and competence for the election rather than the APC RECs doing the dirty jobs of smearing the image of the commission.
He said that INEC should be guided strongly by a consciousness of its reputation to halt the evil plot to send compromised RECs to taint the electoral process in Bayelsa.