The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to firmly resist the plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to smuggle in unaccredited Polling and Collation Agents after the APC failed to meet the deadline stipulated by the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for the September 21, 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.
It is already public knowledge as posted on INEC’s Portal that the APC failed to upload its over 3000 Polling and Collation Agents with the required bio-data and cannot be allowed to submit any Polling and Collation Agent after the deadline for submission on 30 July, 2024 as doing so would amount to rigging the process.
According to the Party National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said it is clear that the APC did not upload the required bio-data of Agents with the sinister aim of causing confusion, smuggling in thugs masquerading as Agents to trigger crises on election day and pave way for its planned manipulation and disruption of the poll having realized that it has no prospect of winning the election.
“Only this can explain why the APC fraudulently uploaded emojis, pictures of foreigners, social media pictures, and non-human photos as Polling and Collation Agents, with the intention to use same as placeholders for thugs imported from certain APC States.”
“This further confirms PDP’s position that the APC and its lackluster candidate, Monday Okpebholo have never been prepared for any democratic contest in the Edo State Governorship election but only waiting to manipulate the election against the will of the people of Edo State,” Debo added.
The PDP therefore calls on INEC and the security agencies to ensure the credibility of the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election by resisting the pressure by APC leaders to violate the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines by allowing the APC to smuggle in thugs and unaccredited individuals as Polling Agents.
Hon. Debo said the PDP insists that strict compliance and implementation of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines remains the assurance for a free, fair, transparent, and credible election which is the only guarantee that the will of the people as expressed in elections will prevail.
The PDP commends the people of Edo State for their overwhelming support for the Party and Candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo while urging them to remain vigilant and alert in resisting the shenanigans of the APC.