statement issued byOlisa Metuh, the
PDP National Publicity Secretary on
Sunday in Abuja.
He however, restated the party’s
readiness for the polls, adding that
it would continue with its rallies,
and directed all its candidates to go
on with their campaigns across the
country.
Metuh, however said that INEC has
the powers to take decisions on
election matters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that INEC, had announced
the shift in the election dates to
March 28 and April 11, for
Presidential and National Assembly
and Governorship and State House
of Assembly elections respectively.
Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman, had
cited security in the North-East as
the major reason for postponing
the election from the earlier
scheduled dates of Feb. 14 and Feb.
28.
“This announcement has not come
without the attendant cost of time
and great expense to our party and
candidates nationwide.
However, on account of the reasons
adduced by the security forces and
INEC, we believe that this shift
which is still within the
constitutionally allowed period, can
be accommodated.
The thoughts and prayers of PDP
members nationwide and indeed all
well-meaning Nigerians, remain
with our security agencies as they
confront this enormous challenge at
this critical period,” he said.
According to him, while the party
understands and appreciates the
security reasons given by INEC for
the rescheduling of the elections,
they are hold the INEC Chairman to
his promise.
INEC chairman had said, while
announcing the shift, that the
commission, would use the period
to perfect its systems and processes
for conducting the best elections in
the country’s history.
Metuh however, demanded that
INEC should look inwards and
thoroughly investigate the alleged
involvement of some of its
personnel including ad-hoc staff on
the issue of the lopsided
distribution of the PVCs.
He urged the commission to also
use the period to attend to the PDP
earlier call on it, to address the
issue of denial of PVCs to non-
indigenes in some states.
“We do hope that INEC will use the
period to ensure that all identified
irregularities are eliminated to
guarantee that registered voters
across the country received their
PVCs urgently,’’ Metuh said.
The PDP spokesman noted that in
Borno, 90 per cent of the PVCs were
handed over to state government
officials, who distributed them by
proxy contrary to laid-down
procedures.
“Also, in Owerri North Local
Government of Imo state, the LGA of
our National Woman Leader, only
new registered voters have received
their PVCs.
“Citizens with old voters’ card have
not had a replacement and this
scenario abounds in other places,’’
Metuh said.
The PDP spokesman, added that
INEC should ahead of the polls,
adequately demonstrate to
Nigerians the application and
practicability of card readers to the
allotted time for vote.
He however, stated that the
postponement of the elections
neither confers advantage on the
PDP and its candidates, nor can it
ever be described as a set back to
the country`s democracy.
The ultimate issue in this regard
Metuh said, was the conduct of
free, fair and credible elections.
He further restated that the PDP,
was committed to the sustenance of
free, fair and credible elections,
which is one of the greatest legacies
of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He advised against politicising,
what was clearly a practical and
administrative decision that
affected everyone and all parties
equally, adding that Nigeria
presently needed: “men of history
not hysteria’’.
