Ekiti: We contested against INEC, security, not APC ―Secondus
By THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has said that the party contested against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies and not All Progressives Congress (APC).
He made the deceleration when he received a Joint International Election Observation Mission fielded by two main American international civil agencies, the National Democratic Institute, (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) on Thursday, at the party headquarters in Abuja.
He disclosed that the party is consulting with its relevant organs over the Ekiti election with a view to determining its move on the 2019 election.
Secondus said that what happened in Ekiti state was not just electoral fraud but robbery in connivance with INEC and security agencies.
The party boss said: “We were contacting INEC to make sure that they conduct a free fair and transparent election in accordance with the constitution of the country but the experience we had in Ekiti is something that shows that some INEC staff have been compromised already.
“We went to National Assembly to complain, we did protest and we submitted our protest letter that the security agencies and INEC are coming together to rig the election in Ekiti and in the smartest way.
“Some of you, you know that there is a smart way of doing it, either electronically or technically or otherwise. So, we went to a road show because the election in Ekiti was so important to the nation because that will be a test case to know if 2019 election will hold well. They did what they did, INEC and the Security agents and we have rejected the result of the election.”
Secondus added: “The second thing was that they came out with federal might, with money, with everything to entice the voters. Even at that, we won the election but it was manipulated.
“Our opinion is that INEC and security agents are directly involved in this manipulation. As a matter of fact, we did not contest against the APC, we contested against the security agencies and INEC.
“Moving forward, if nothing is done to stamp out and restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians and other political parties, then it may be difficult to accept the result of 2019 general election. No matter what the outcome may be, unless it is transparent, free and fair and it is a recipe for crises.
“We believe that if we are not sure that both INEC and security agencies will be transparent and that they will not take sides, we are consulting as to whether we shall participate or not. Because you are participating against security agencies and INEC who have colluded to alter the figures even after you have voted. So, we are in dilemma.”
The National Organizing Security (NOS) of the party Col. Austin Akobundu who also briefed the visiting international agencies on Ekiti, said the election involved various electoral frauds through intimidation and ballot snatching.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and President Emeritus, Fund for Peace United States Dr Pauline .H.Bakaer, said they were on the visit to share ideas with the opposition party on their challenges ahead of the 2019 general election.
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