Edo State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alerted the public of an alleged N500,000.00 payment by Edo State Government agents for cooperation and assistance rendered by INEC officials to smuggle APC members into the list of its ad-hoc staff list for the February 16 general elections.
The lasted accusation is coming a few days after the party rejected the ad-hoc staff list transmitted to the the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) by the University of Benin vice chancellor.
In a statement in Benin on Wednesday, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, the PDP warned that action to use corrupted ad-hoc staff list for election would be a recipe for chaos.
The full text of the statement is as follows:
RE: INEC AD-HOC STAFF LIST
A few days ago, Edo PDP registered its condemnation of the list transmitted to INEC by the University of Benin vice chancellor. We rejected it and called on INEC to jettison it. Since then, we have received more information on the role INEC Electoral Officers (EOs) are playing in the local government areas they supervise.
We want them to know that we are aware of the N500,000.00 alert from Edo State government agents for the cooperation and assistance rendered to smuggle APC members into the list of ad-hoc staff. This action we warn again is a recipe for chaos!
We are aware that EOs have given APC candidates PVCs in bulk to be distributing among their members and sure voters only, while depriving other citizens and eligible voters their cards. To mask this fraud, the EOs are claiming flood have destroyed them.
In Oredo, Hon Chris Okaeben, an APC candidate, has been spotted and reported to be in possession of thousands of PVCs and distributing same to his party loyalists and supporters. We believe these are some of the purportedly destroyed PVC!
A word is enough for the wise.
Pleas find below, letter to the VC of the University of Benin with the State REC of INEC copied in response to the invitation extended by the University of Benin spokesman to us to come and verify the names they transmitted to INEC.
February 6, 2019
The Vice Chancellor,University of Benin,Ugbowo,Benin City,Edo State.
Sir,
Re: LIST OF INEC AD-HOC STAFF
We have it on good authority that your institution has compromised as it sent a bogus list to INEC to be used in the forthcoming general elections. To this end, we issued a press statement condemning the action.
In a swift response to our press statement, your spokesman, Mr Micheal Osasuyi was quoted as inviting us to visit your institution saying we were free to verify the names on the list.
Consequently, we wish to inform you that we will be visiting your institution on Thursday 7 February 2019 at 10.00am to verify the names on the purported list.
We have accepted this invitation without prejudice .
Be assured of our warmest regards.
Yours faithfully,
CHRIS OSA NEHIKHARESTATE PUBLICITY SECRETARYPDP EDO STATE
Cc:
THE RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER (REC)INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)RAMAT PARKBENIN CITYEDO STATE
