An Umbrella body for registered political parties, “the Inter-Party Advisory Council”, IPAC Anambra state chapter has demanded that certain anti rigging measures be put in place by INEC within the next seventy two hours to arrest what they alleged as a plot by one political party to rig Saturday’s gubernatorial election with the aid of security operatives and key officers of INEC.
Correspondent Kenechukwu Chukwudi reports that
part of IPACs demand is that names and photographs of all lawfully appointed and accredited collation and returning officers to be used during the election, should be made available to all political parties, just as all result sheets in form EC, 8B and 8C should be initialed by at least National Chairman of INEC, State Resident Electoral Commissioner or Deputy Inspector General Of Police in charge of operations during the election.
At a meeting in Awka, IPAC State Chairman, Mr. Uche Ugwoji said that intelligence report has revealed to them moves against democratic norms to rig the election, including mapping out of huge sums of money for some officers of the electoral umpire to falsify results through the duplication of Returning Officers to collate and submit fake results favoring the political party.
The state Chairman alleged that the top INEC officers will be assisted by detailed Police Officers, the Army and Department of State Security operatives in carrying out their clandestine plan, as ninety-two electoral wards are the target of manipulations by the said political party, including harassment of other parties by the security operatives.
The group reminded INEC of its oath of neutrality in form EC17 of its officials and officers upholding integrity, transparency, professionalism and dedication for all parties in an election and demanded a firm commitment from INEC in ensuring free, fair and credible election in Anambra state.
They warned security operatives and INEC to be on their guard against the use of fake security operatives for the election, including appointing two sets of Returning Officers which is likely to be a means to favor a particular political party.
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