The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appointed card-carrying members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as presiding officers in some states and local government areas.

The allegation was contained in the communique issued after the party’s caucus meeting held at the National Secretariat in Abuja. APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who said the party was disappointed with INEC’s postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, said: “We observed that the list of presiding officers in the states and local government areas published by INEC prior to the aborted February 16 elections contained names of mostly PDP card carrying members and urged INEC to take steps to correct this anomaly to ensure fairness and credibility of the electoral process.”

The party, in the communique read by Oshiomhole, said: “That the party leadership expressed deep regrets over the unfortunate death of party members due to stampede as a result of overwhelming crowds during the presidential campaigns in some parts of the country.

“The Caucus received with shock and disbelief the last-minute postponement of the February 16 elections.

The party reiterated its disappointment over this unfortunate action, considering especially, the repeated assurances by INEC that all challenges would be overcome before the February 16 elections.

“Notwithstanding the disappointment over the postponement, the caucus urged all APC members across the country to rise above this temporary setback and recommit themselves to working with redoubled efforts for the victory of all our candidates in the February 23 and March 9 dates for the elections.

“The caucus urged all APC members to immediately commence campaigns in line with the Provisions of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, which states clearly that campaigns shall stop 24 hours to the elections. Our party would, therefore, abide by the provisions of laws.

“The caucus urged the security agencies to step up their activities by ensuring that all those involved in violence, ballot box snatching and falsification of results should face the full weight of the law.”

Also, the party said: “We resolved that the February 23 election date must remain sacrosanct. Issues of logistics and other foreseeable challenges must be addressed to ensure the elections do not suffer any hitch whatsoever.

“The caucus expressed curiosity over the fact that certain leaders of PDP had full knowledge of the plan to postpone the elections several hours before INEC made the unfortunate announcement. The caucus, therefore, urged INEC to demonstrate its independence and neutrality beyond doubts in all of its activities before, during and after the period of elections.”

•Sourced from a New Telegraph report

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