- The INEC REC in Plateau, Alhaji Halilu Pai, has been accused by the state chapter of the PDP, of manipulating the electoral process and being biased
- The accusation followed INEC’s delay in declaring some results of the National Assembly elections in the state
- The party leaders later staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office in the state
The Plateau chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state’s resident electoral commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai, of “compromising his position and manipulating the electoral process”.
Chief Damishi Sango, the chairman of the party, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday, February 27 in Jos, particularly alleged that Pai was “biased” and had “glaringly taken sides”, NAN reports.
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Legit.ng gathers that the accusation followed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s delay in declaring some results of the National Assembly elections in the state, five days after the conduct of the polls.
According to Sango, the inability of INEC to declare some of the results has “thrown Plateau into serious confusion”.
He also alleged that some of the results declared so far were “done under duress with heavy security presence”.
“It is glaring to everyone that Mallam Halilu Pai, the REC in this state, has compromised his position as an impartial umpire.
“His inability to announce and declare winners of some of the National Assembly results has caused a lot of anxiety. If you know Plateau well, this is a recipe for monumental crisis.
“So, we are alerting the nation and the whole world to hold the REC responsible for any breakdown of law and order,” he said
Sango appealed to the REC to tread the path of justice and fairness, and declare the actual winners of the polls without further delay.
The party leaders, led by Lt Gen Jeremiah Useni (rtd), the PDP governorship candidate, later staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office in the state, demanding the immediate declaration of winners of the polls.
When contacted, Pai said that the allegations were “not true”.
“I am on my way to Abuja for a meeting and I will call you later, but what I can say is that the allegations are not true,” he said.
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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that Matau Bernard-Malau, the returning officer of Plateau Central senatorial district, on Monday night, February 25, declared the National Assembly election in Kanam local government area inconclusive.
Addressing party agents, observers and INEC officials at the Pankshin collation centre, the returning officer said that the decision became imperative due to the problems encountered while receiving the results from the area.
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Nigerians react as INEC releases results - on Legit TV:
Source: Legit.ng
