THE Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday said that suspected agents of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, of the All Progressives Congress allegedly were threatening and forcing INEC presiding officers, including NYSC members to endorse prefilled results sheets in favour of the APC, in some local government areas during the November 16 elections.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement, said the alleged electoral offence occurred in Okene and Okehi Local Government Areas in Kogi Central Senatorial zone.
He alleged that the governor and the All Progressives Congress were desperate to allocate fictitious votes and fabricate results in their favour in the areas.
He said, “Given the magnitude of the manipulation, the PDP urges INEC not to accept any results coming from the Okene and Okehi LGAs as they have already been compromised. Moreover, the PDP and other stakeholders in this election will never accept manipulated results coming from the two local government areas.
“The party also calls on security agencies to immediately detail a reinforced team to Okene and Okehi to save the lives of the presiding officers and the NYSC members from the APC and agents of Yahaya Bello.
“INEC and security officials must take immediate steps to arrest the situation as the development is already causing tension and could lead to the electorate having no option than to resort to self-help to defend their democratic rights.”
He also urges INEC to note that the APC was allegedly manipulating the electoral process, causing deliberate delays and swapping of election materials, all in a bid to cause confusion in the process.
He said, “For instance, in Kabba/Bunu Okekoko Ward Unit 9, the baby units have been reduced from two to one, a situation that will lead to disenfranchising of voters to reduce votes belonging to the PDP.
“Also the serial number on the ballot papers brought to the area is different from numbers on ballot papers released in Abuja for the area. Such swapping of ballot papers is a deliberate ploy to cause confusion and derail the electoral process in PDP stronghold.”
He therefore urged INEC to immediately correct all the alleged anomalies as, according to him, every genuine vote cast must be made to count in this election.
Meanwhile, Journalists covering election process in Ayetoro area of Kogi State were allegedly attacked by some angry youths after thugs carted away ballot boxes at ward 01, unit 004, where Dino Melaye had earlier voted.
Thugs numbering about 10 invaded the polling unit in two Hilux vans an Honda Civic car, shooting into the air and targeted the ballot boxes.
The ballot boxes were eventually taken away while some boys in the community chased the vehicles with no success.
A young man simply identified as Dami, who just left a local eatery and was passing through the polling unit was shot in the leg and rushed to hospital.
Enraged by the action of the thugs, youths in the community blocked roads leading to the area with tyres which they set on fire.
Those attacked includes The Nation (Tony Akowe), Splash FM and others were trapped in the violence that ensued.
When eventually the journalists made their way out of the community, they were attacked with the vehicle damaged.
