APC has provided evidence to warrant cancellation of Anambra polls – Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has provided substantial evidence to warrant the cancellation of the Nov. 16 governorship election in Anambra.

The party said this in a statement on Sunday, in Lagos, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

According to Mohammed, there is enough “weighty, compelling and substantial” evidence for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the election.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed and INEC Boss Prof Attahiru Jega

INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, on Friday reiterated the commission’s stance not to cancel the election, arguing that there was no evidence to warrant it.

Instead, Jega announced that a supplementary election would hold on Nov. 30 in parts of the state where the exercise did not hold.

He maintained that the challenges the commission had in the areas were not enough grounds to cancel the election.

However, Mohammed said: ”Our party has provided incontrovertible and more than substantial evidence to show that what took place on Nov.16 is a parody of election.

“There is no evidence that can be more substantial than the fact that INEC, in conducting the election, failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act”.

“What other evidence can be more compelling than the INEC Chairman’s admission of compromise by a top official of the commission?” Mohammed queried.

The publicity argued that Jega’s statement that the election fell short of what INEC expected and prepared for, was also enough reason for cancellation.

He said that Jega’s unforced admission that a senior official of the commission had been financially induced to compromise the election in Idemili North Local Government Area with more than 173,000 registered voters, was a big reason.

He described the issue as “very serious”, because Idemili North was the stronghold of the APC candidate, Sen. Chris Ngige.

Mohammed noted that in the 2011 senatorial election, Ngige scored more than 80 per cent of all the votes cast in the area.

Another reason he adduced for the cancellation of the election was the INEC’s decision to use students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, in violation of its guidelines to use trained and ad hoc staff as presiding officers.

“Also, the use of the staff of the university as Supervising Presiding Officers even though the running mate of the APGA candidate was until his nomination a professor in the same institution is another reason,” he said.

Mohammed also said the fact that electoral materials meant for the known strongholds of the APC candidate were sent to wrong wards or polling units was another reason why the exercise should be cancelled.

He urged Jega to summon the courage “to ameliorate the situation by ordering a fresh election”, saying that failing to do so meant an abdication of his responsibility. (NAN)