The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be transparent in appointing electoral officers for the general elections.

This was made known in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Director, Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday.

He said, “The PPCO calls on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure that the process of appointing electoral officers is transparent.

“Our party also insists 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 called for the names of all electoral officers at all levels to be made public ahead of the elections, for all stakeholders
to assess the neutrality of such officers in their respective constituencies.

“We therefore demand 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.

“It is important to state that our party is not in the arena of conflict with INEC but as a political party and critical stakeholder in the 2019 elections, we have the responsibility to point out pitfalls that can endanger the electoral process and lead to a slide into chaos”.

The party also said that it 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 PPCO restates that the PDP and our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as well as all our candidates in all the elections at all levels are ready and set for the elections.

“Our Presidential candidate is vigorously campaigning across the nooks and crannies of our country consolidating on the consensus already attained by Nigerians across the divides to elect him as the next President of our beloved country.

“Meanwhile let it be known that anything short of a free, fair, clear and credible election will not be acceptable, not only to the PDP, but also to the entire nation”.

•Sourced from a Channels TV report