2023: Stopping INEC from Procuring e-Voting Materials, Part of Rigging Plan, Says Secondus

Chuks Okocha

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has raised the alarm that the move to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)from procuring materials for e-voting was part of plans to rig the 2023 general election by the ruling All progressives Congress (APC).

Secondus, in a statement from his media office said, every indication pointed to the unfortunate fact that President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, APC were not working towards conducting free, fair and transparent elections in 2023.

The National Chairman was reacting to a media report at the weekend that INEC was halting its procurement of e-voting machines ahead of 2023, because of the rejection of e-transmission of results by the National Assembly.

Secondus noted that since the existing Electoral Act and the Constitution gave unilateral powers to INEC to conduct credible elections in Nigeria, it did not need the National Assembly’s position to do its legitimate duties.

“From all indications, INEC is trying to abdicate its constitutionally assigned responsibilities of conducting free, fair and transparent elections, hiding under the cover of delayed amended Electoral Act or rejection of e-transmission of results.

“Nigerians and democratic observers globally are watching INEC ahead of 2023 and it will be disastrous if the Independent electoral body dances to the antics of the ruling party.

Secondus said if the electoral commission was able to conduct governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States in September and October last year without the amended Electoral Act, it could still be done all over the country
He said the PDP was worried at the development and would do everything legal to ensure that the will of the people of Nigeria was not thwarted again in 2023.

He then charged all lovers of democracy within and outside the country to do everything possible to ensure that credible elections were conducted in the country in 2023 as anything short of that would gravely undermine our democracy and indeed Nigeria.