Kogi/Bayelsa polls: PDP cautions INEC over RECs, National commissioners

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the deployment of extra-national commissioners as well as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), from other states to Kogi and Bayelsa for the November 16 governorship elections in the two states.

The party said in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, it’s National Publicity Secretary in Abuja on Monday that it was instructive to let the INEC hierarchy to know that the PDP already has a due diligence report on each of the commissioners.

It added: “Our party recognizes that while some are of clean records in their previous responsibilities, there are others who are known to be of questionable character and fared far below expectations in their responsibility.”

The PDP, therefore, cautioned the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to note that the deployment of officials with known integrity issues was capable of triggering a crisis and jeopardizing the credibility of the electoral process.

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“It is also important to state that Kogi and Bayelsa elections present an opportunity for INEC to show that it has become committed to a free, fair and credible election without being influenced or manipulated,” the statement said.

The PDP invited the INEC Chairman to “rescue whatever is left of the commission’s image with these elections by allowing the will of the people to prevail.”

Meanwhile, the main opposition party has adjusted its campaign timetable ahead of the Kogi State governorship election.

The PDP noted that its campaign in the state was suspended for two days to commiserate with the Director-General of the Campaign Organisation, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, who lost his wife last Saturday.

The resumed campaign will now run from Wednesday 6th to Wednesday 13th November 2019, a separate statement by Ologbondiyan said.