Edo: INEC recruiting APC members as ad hoc staff, PDP alleges

•As INEC denies recruiting APC supporters

THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of recruiting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for use as ad hoc staff in the September 10 governorship election in the state.

According to a statement issued by the interim spokesman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Saturday, the party was in possession of video evidence allegedly exposing INEC officials in the state and suggesting that they were planning the outcome of the gubernatorial election before it was conducted.

It said: “We have once again uncovered another plot by the electoral umpire in Edo State to rig the gubernatorial election in favour of the government in power in the state.

“There are clear evidence available to us showing how INEC officials were recruiting APC members as ad  hoc staff to rig the election for the APC candidate in the Saturday 10, 2016 governorship election in the state.”

The PDP spokesman warned that the party would not tolerate any act of sabotage and advised the electoral umpire to recruit neutral and credible Nigerians without partisan interest as ad hoc staff to maintain their neutrality in the process.

The PDP further stated: “We will not accept anything short of free, fair and credible process leading to the gubernatorial poll in Edo State.”

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State, Sam Olumekun, has disclosed that the electoral body was not in the process of recruiting supporters of the All Progressives Congress  (APC) in the state has ad hoc staff for the September 10 governorship election in the state.

Speaking on Saturday, the Edo REC described the allegation as ridiculous, saying that apropriety guidelines were followed in recruiting ad hoc staff preparatory to the election.

He said, “We have recruited those who we call SPOs (Supervisory Presiding Officers). They are in charge of issuing materials to a certain number of polling units.