The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed concerns over an alleged plan by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, in collaboration with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to manipulate the upcoming Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise in order to influence the September 21st governorship election.
During a press briefing in Benin on Friday, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Igbingie, stated that ICT officials of the electoral umpire are reportedly slated to facilitate this plan on behalf of the Edo State government.
Igbingie further claimed that, under the pretext of insufficient personnel for the exercise, arrangements have been made with INEC to enlist the services of Edo teachers, civil servants, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as Ad Hoc staff.
He further said: “It has become expedient that our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), raised this alarm and bring to the notice of well-meaning Nigerians, the ingnoble plans by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State to circumvent and rig the 2024 Governorship Election in the State using the forthcoming Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, Exercise as a formidable platform.
“Additionally, the APC has found out that Governor Obaseki is working closely with the head of INEC ICT unit so the PDP can manipulate the Voters Register and the BIVAs.
“We have on good authority and from multiple sources that some gullible officials of INEC in most of the 18 local government areas that make up our state, have approached the outgoing Edo State government to provide them with ‘logistics’ for the CVR. In anticipation, these unpatriotic INEC officials have promised to allow the PDP unfettered access to INEC data capturing machines.
“The APC is also aware that the INEC officials have hidden under the guise of no adequate personnel for the exercise, to make frivolous complaints to the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki aimed at undermining the core mandate of the institution.
“Cashing in, the Governor has agreed with INEC to deploy the services of Edo teachers and civil servants in addition to members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, as Ad Hoc staff.
“He has promised to bankroll their stipends after the CVR exercise.”
The APC State Publicity Secretary who alleged that the state government has concluded plan to register underage persons with a view to giving such cards to adults to vote during the election, advocated “strict compliance with the INEC designated venues for the CVR exercise which is the Ward Headquarters.”
Igbingie also demanded the “immediate deployment of INEC Head of ICT in Edo State who we know is working closely with a female INEC staff in Bayelsa State: She is the wife of a PDP chieftain Edo State,” and “complete restriction of transfer of voters from neighbouring states during the CVR exercise.”
