APC accuses INEC of moving collation of votes in Bayelsa guber polls to PDP strongholds
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is moving the collation of votes in the party’s local government strongholds in Bayelsa State to Yenagoa, the state capital, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has an advantage.
In a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC said it had confirmed reports that collation of votes in Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas, where the party is expected to win, had been moved to Yenagoa, while votes in PDP’s strongholds were being collated on location in the local government areas.
The APC described this as a “stark and disturbing pattern” that was unacceptable and highly suspect. The party questioned the reason for this selective evacuation of votes from APC strongholds and urged INEC to act in accordance with the law that stipulates that votes shall be collated in the respective local government areas before state collation at the state capital.
The party said it strongly objected to this disturbing development that would cast a long shadow over the credibility of the Bayelsa guber polls. The party also hinted at the possibility of INEC colluding with the PDP to subvert the legitimate votes of the people in APC strongholds in favour of the PDP.
The press statement read in part: “What exactly is the reason for this selective evacuation of votes from APC strongholds for collation in Yenagoa? This is unacceptable and highly suspect. While we hesitate to accuse INEC of colluding with the PDP to subvert the legitimate votes of the people in APC strongholds in favour of the PDP, we strongly object to this disturbing development that will cast a long shadow over the credibility of the Bayelsa guber polls.”
The party called on INEC to reverse itself on this unlawful move and collate all results in the respective local government areas as stipulated by law. The party said it would not accept any result that was not transparently and lawfully collated.
