Ahead of the 11th of governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the upcoming polls as a golden opportunity for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeem its allegedly battered image.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who stated this in Abuja on Sunday, also demanded the transfer of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Agu.
While acknowledging the promise by INEC to fully use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the Result Viewing portal to upload election results, Ologunagba said the PDP would hold INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, directly responsible and accountable for his pronouncements.
He said, ‘The INEC Chairman must note that the integrity of an election process is directly relation to the confidence of the electorate.
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‘These elections present INEC with a golden opportunity to redeem its largely battered image by-product of the 2023 elections.’
Demanding the transfer of the Imo REC, Ologunagba said, “The PDP, for the umpteenth time, demands the immediate removal of the openly compromised Imo State INEC REC, Prof. Sylvia Agu.
‘Prof Sylvia Agu is a direct relation of a national officer of the APC and there are allegations that she is being further compromised to assist the APC to rig the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.’
Recall that INEC has earlier said that they will enlist the services of 40,000 Ad hoc staff members for the governorship elections taking place on November 11, 2023, in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.
The tenure of the sitting Governor of Imo State is scheduled to come to a close on January 14, 2024, whereas the terms of the Governors in Kogi and Bayelsa states will end on January 26, 2024, and February 13, 2024, respectively.
In 2019, the commission allocated approximately 24,000 temporary personnel for the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections, which occurred on November 16.
In preparation for the off-cycle elections scheduled for November, INEC initiated the recruitment of ad hoc staff by opening its portal on August 31.