By News Agency of Nigeria
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide maximum security for its staff and the election materials used in the March 18 governorship election.
The APC said this in a statement on Sunday in Abeokuta by its spokesman in Ogun, Tunde Oladunjoye.
The party noted that all the ballot papers pertaining to the election needed adequate security and should be protected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and gubernatoeial flag bearer Oladipupo Adebutu.
The statement said it became pertinent to demand the provision of watertight security for INEC offices across the state, its officers and election materials in view of the recent happenings in Ogun.
APC pointed to last week’s invasion of INEC headquarters in Ogun allegedly by the PDP candidate, who lost the governorship election to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“We are duty-bound to urge INEC and all other relevant statutory bodies, including the security agencies, to ensure that nothing untoward happened to the election materials, especially the ballot papers, in INEC’s possession,” said APC.
It added, “Adebutu not only took thugs to INEC to ‘submit a letter’ but also insisted that officers of INEC must come out to address his hired crowd and respond to the so-called letter.”
APC noted that it was an already established legal process that parties wishing to challenge an election result and intend to gain access to INEC materials could only do so through the order of the court.
“The invasion of INEC head office by Adebutu was desperation of the highest order, which depicted poor sportsmanship. Having lost the election and failed to get to office via purchase, the PDP and its candidate lacked the moral rectitude to make allegations of electoral impropriety against anybody or INEC,” said the APC statement.
(NAN)
