The Peoples Democratic Party in Nasarawa State has accused the All Progressives Congress of conspiring with a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission to burn and destroy Permanent Voter Cards of its supporters in the Awe Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking during a press briefing at the PDP secretariat in Lafia on Friday, the public relations officer of the party, Ibrahim Hamza, said the INEC staff, Danlami Umar Dandina, who is the Electoral Officer in charge of the Awe LGA, conspired with some leaders of the APC to burn PVCs of its loyalists in the LGA in order to disenfranchise them in the coming elections.
He said, “The attention of our party has been drawn to the unfortunate and illegal act of the electoral officer of INEC in Awe LGA on his collaboration with some members of the APC to destroy and burn a large number of Permanent Voter Cards belonging to members and supporters of our party, the PDP.
“The affected eligible voters in the area reported the matter to the police and the suspects who are members of the APC have been arrested and taken to the state Criminal Investigation Department where they agreed to have committed the crime.
“We are calling for the immediate arrest and sack of the Electoral Officer. We also want his collaborators to be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We are urging INEC to ensure that All PVCs illegally given to APC members in the area is withdrawn immediately and handed over to its original owners, and in the case of the destroyed PVCs, INEC should do everything possible to ensure that they are replaced before the 2023 elections.”
While calling on the party supporters across the state to remain calm while the matter is being addressed, the PDP spokesperson said the APC was afraid of imminent defeat in the coming elections that was why it began collaboration with the INEC staff to disenfranchise residents of the area.
“The APC failed the people of Nasarawa State and Nigerians in general, that is why they are doing everything possible to stop our supporters from voting in the 2023 elections but we will not accept any form of intimidation from them. I am very confident that in the end, Nigerians will speak with one voice and vote for the PDP candidates,” Hamza added.
The Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Ibrahim Onawo, declined comment on the matter when contacted via his telephone line.
(Punch)
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