INEC staff conspired with politicians to ‘abscond’ with BVAS during Plateau polls: PDP

The Plateau chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns over the disappearance and the resurfacing of 14 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) during the governorship election. 

It alleged that an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official conspired with politicians to “disappear” with the machines.

Chris Hassan, chairman of the party in the state, made the allegation at a news conference on Monday in Jos.

“It is common knowledge that some officials of INEC absconded with electoral materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive,” Mr Hassan said.

He added, “And some officials deliberately refused to turn in the results of over 35 polling units for over 48 hours after the close of poll, and this happened in connivance with some notable politicians who were bent on rigging the election in their favour.

The party chairman called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all electoral offenders in the recently concluded general elections in the state.

“We need to draw the attention of the public to the fact that these acts of criminal conspiracy and sheer electoral brigandage and banditry were premeditated, hatched, calculated and executed.

“We, therefore, call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of electoral offenders of the elections in the state,” he said.

Mr Hassan, however, commended the police for the prompt arrest of the alleged INEC official, one Umar Mohammed, a Registration Area Technical Officer (RATECH) for Naraguta B Ward, who showed up after 48 hours after the declaration of the governorship winner with 14 BVAS Machines.

He called on the police to go after three other ad hoc staff of INEC and 14 police officers attached to the polling units who absconded without a trace, leading to the disenfranchisement of many voters.

Mr Hassan further charged relevant security agencies to ensure a proper investigation was conducted and all perpetrators made to face the full wrath of the law.

He stated that the party kept a steady check on the process and would resist any attempt to compromise.

The party chairman also called on INEC to immediately correct the results of Plateau Central Senatorial Zone with reference to Kanam and Mangu Local Government Areas and declare ,, of the PDP as the winner of the senatorial election

(NAN)