The People Democratic Party (PDP) has called upon the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to view the upcoming November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa States as an opportunity for the commission to restore its reputation,leadership reports.
The party also stated that it will only accept the transmission of results through the full utilization of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) system, in accordance with the requirements of the Electoral Act of 2022, for these elections.
During an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made this assertion. He also called for the immediate removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Professor Sylvia Agu.
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INEC Chairman Yakubu had earlier announced that the polling unit results for the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi would be uploaded on the Result Viewing Portal (IReV). He disclosed this while speaking to journalists during a mock accreditation exercise in Kogi in preparation for the November 11 elections in the three states.
Responding to this, Ologunagba said, “The PDP acknowledges the INEC Chairman’s statement that INEC will make full use of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal for uploading and electronically transmitting results in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi States.”
The PDP insists that the use of BVAS and IReV for these elections is a mandatory statutory requirement of the law, and INEC must adhere to it. The party expressed its readiness for the elections and emphasized its commitment to accepting no other means of transmitting results except as prescribed by the INEC Chairman in accordance with the Electoral Act of 2022.
Furthermore, Ologunagba called for the removal of Imo State’s REC, Prof. Sylvia Agu, citing a lack of confidence in her from the PDP and other political parties. The PDP spokesperson stressed the need for INEC to replace Prof. Agu with a new REC from the pool of available candidates.
Ologunagba also mentioned the PDP’s readiness for the gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi. He expressed confidence in Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP candidate for the Imo election and believed that Governor Douye Diri’s outstanding performance would secure him a second term in Bayelsa.
The PDP has started training its polling agents to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act of 2022, INEC Guidelines, and Regulations, as confirmed by the INEC Chairman.
