CUPP, IPAC seek redeployment of Bayelsa REC, others

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the Inter – Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Bayelsa state have called for the immediate redeployment of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elder Monday Udo Tom and other electoral officers over what they described as an unholy alliance with the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

The group noted that there was no need for the leadership of the commission in the state to oversee the conduct of the forthcoming state assembly election.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the state capital, the two bodies said they have lost confidence in the ability of the resident electoral commissioner to conduct free, fair and credible elections on Saturday because of what transpired during the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Chairman of CUPP, Tare Edwin said: “We will not tolerate any manipulation this time around. There is an unholy alliance between the resident electoral commissioner and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in the state to undermine the forthcoming state assembly elections.

“We are calling on the INEC to immediately redeploy the state electoral chief due to his poor handling of the last Presidential and National Assembly elections where election materials were stolen under his supervision.

“We don’t see any reason why he should be conducting this Saturday’s elections. In the last elections, you are all aware that materials were hijacked and carted away by thugs.

“A total of 63 card readers were stolen during the exercise in different parts of the state, namely Brass (one); Nembe (23); Sagbama (eight); Southern Ijaw (24) and Yenagoa (six).

“The law stipulates that card readers must be used during the elections, but here where card readers were carted away and elections did not take place results were announced.”

Also speaking, the state IPAC Chairman, Eneye Zidougha said they have lost confidence in the state umpire .

“Another election is about to be conducted, we don’t have confidence in the resident electoral commissioner anymore. There is connivance between security personnel and INEC officials.

“It appears that some persons are bent on making the process frustrating. Nobody is above the law. The officers who have erred should be dealt with,” he declared.