Polls: PDP demands transparency in appointment of Electoral Officers

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) transparency in the appointment of Electoral officers to be engaged in the coming elections. The party noted that INEC has started the process of appointing electoral officers for the conduct of elections at various levels and there is need to involve people that are not partisan. The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) therefore called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure that the process of appointing electoral officers is transparent. The PPCO also insisted that members of the Buhari Media Group (BMG) and other APC support groups, hiding under the N-Power programme of the Buhari administration, must not be allowed to participate as electoral officers in any capacity and at any level in the general elections. The Media Director of the campaign organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that no university Vice Chancellor or lecturer, who, at any point in time has manifested or expressed any form of partisanship, should be allowed to participate in the electoral process. The PPCO further insisted that names of all electoral officers at all levels must be made public ahead of the elections, for all stakeholders to assess the neutrality of such officers in their respective constituencies. Raising alarm over the fear of PDP, he said “we invite the INEC Chairman to note that we are aware that Mrs. Amina Zakari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s relation by marriage in INEC, is already coordinating compromised lecturers and other partisan individuals that will pander to her ploys to manipulate the Presidential election”. The party demanded that the process must be checked and conducted with strict compliance with the assurances of the INEC Chairman, that it will be credible and transparent. Making further clarification, he said the party is not in conflict with INEC but as a political party and critical stakeholder in the 2019 elections, it has the responsibility to point out pitfalls that can endanger the electoral process and lead to a slide into chaos. “The PDP is a responsible political party. Our members, followers and teeming supporters cut across all the 120,000 polling units in our nation. The PDP, therefore is a major stakeholder in the 2019 general election and even beyond. “As such, INEC should stop engaging the PDP and other political parties as if we are enemies. The commission must consider all propositions and objections pointed out by the PDP and other opposition parties as measures that will foster free, fair, transparent and credible elections,” the party added.