The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) denied them access to electoral documents for inspection and certification for the just concluded governorship election in the state.
The party’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Hamza, disclosed this during a press briefing at the PDP office in Lafia on Friday.
He said that despite repeated demand and court order directing the release of electoral documents, the electoral officers at some local government level offices of INEC could not avail the party with the required materials at their disposals.
He said: “Consequent upon the order granted by the Honourable Tribunal for the inspection of electoral documents and making copies there from for the purpose of maintaining election, petition, the parties to the petition have commenced joint inspection on the 18th day of May, 2023.
“In the course of the inspection, the electoral officers at some local government level offices of INEC could not avail the parties with the required materials at their disposals, alluding a number of incomprehensible reasons.
“However, it was discovered that in Karu LGA office, the electoral officers way after the elections, are presently changing the ballot papers in order to conform with the pleadings of the APC in an attempt to temper with the records and evidence that may be needed to assist the persecution.
“Also, we discovered that unused ballot papers are nowhere to be found of the disputed areas because the electoral officers are now swapping it with used ballot papers. In other local governments visited, our team were told that the documents are not ready.
“In our opinion, these are the antics and ploy to delay the release of the materials until they are tempered with as evidence and proof of election malfeasance. These are deliberate acts by the electoral officers to have the opportunity to fabricate documents to cover up in favor of the APC.”
He therefore, advised the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Uthman Ajidagba and the INEC chief administrative officer in the state, to as a matter of honour, avoid situations that would further impinge and erode the little or no confidence that is left of the INEC administration in the state, by colluding, aiding and abetting crime of the aforesaid nature.
