The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nasarawa State chapter has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating its case at the governorship election petition tribunal.
Addressing journalists in Lafia, the party spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Hamza, said that despite the tribunal’s order, INEC officials at the local councils have vehemently refused them access to electoral documents for inspection.
According to Hamza, electoral officials have bluntly denied them access on ground of ridiculous excuses.
The PDP’s legal team expressed bitterness, noting that there is a deliberate plot to weaken their evidence to diligently prove its case through the documents.
He said that Karu Local Council was peculiar, accusing the council’s electoral officers of allegedly changing ballot papers used during the governorship election in the local council to conform with the prayers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the tribunal.
“In the course of the inspection, the electoral officers at some local councils did not avail the party with the required materials at their disposals, alluding to a number of incomprehensible reasons.
“However, it was discovered that in Karu Local Council, the electoral officers have been away from office after the elections.
“They are presently changing the ballot papers in an attempt to temper with the records and evidence that may be needed to assist the persecution.
“We have also discovered that unused ballot papers are nowhere to be found in the disputed areas because the electoral officers are now clearing all the used ballot papers.
“In other local councils visited, our team was told that the documents are not ready. In our opinion, these are antics and ploy to delay the release of the materials until they are tempered with as evidence and proof of election malfeasance.
The party, therefore, appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy to call on the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Nasarawa State, Dr. Uthman Ajidagba and the commission’s Chief Administrative Officer in the state to prevent a situation that would further impinge and erode the little confidence left at the disposals of Nigerians about INEC’s administration in the state.”
