The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday described the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ban the use of smart phones in polling units during the governorship election in Osun State, on Saturday, as a ploy to rig the election in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, condemned the decision by INEC during a meeting with stakeholders from Bayelsa East Senatorial District in Yenagoa.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, Secondus said it was quite puzzling that the commission would attempt to prevent the use of smart phones.
While describing smart phones as the easiest means of communication in the society, during elections, the PDP stressed that the decision to ban its use was the strategy of INEC and the APC to rig the 2019 elections.
Secondus argued that the commission by that singular act had sent the country to the dark, primitive era.
The PDP Chairman also restated his opposition of President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the amended Electoral Act in a bid to avoid the use of card readers.
He said, “We have all heard what the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, said about the decision to ban the use of smart phones in the polling units. All over the world, a smart phone is the easiest way of communication.
“What they have said clearly shows that the commission in connivance with the All Progressives Congress, has perfected a rigging strategy for the next election. In fact, INEC has sent Nigeria back to the primitive days.
“The same plan to rig the 2019 election is responsible for the refusal of the President to sign the amended Electoral Act because the card reader must be used.
“Our position is that INEC is wrong, there is nowhere in the constitution or in the electoral act , where smart phones are banned. INEC, if you throw this country to crisis, you will be held responsible.”
Secondus said that Nigeria was under siege as the Federal Government had introduced an obnoxious suspension of the people’s right to freedom in the country.
He lamented that the APC had introduced dictatorial tendencies that were worse that the repression witnessed under the military.
Secondus also accused the Federal Government òf borrowing N11 trillion in three years in spite of the huge amount of money budgeted yearly to run the government.
He said that the nation’s debt profile had hit an all-time under the APC-led Federal Government.
“We have borrowed N11 trillion and you don’t feel the impact of the budget except in Daura. Nigeria has witnessed nepotism, that has never been felt this way in this country.
“The international community is worried about Nigeria. The country is broke, our debt profile has risen to highest level. Nigeria is under siege. Freedom and rights have denied our people. .The country is going through very difficult and trying the moments,” the statement quoted Secondus to have said.
In his remarks, Governor Dickson urged the people of the Niger Delta to give the expected support to Secondus in his efforts to lead the PDP to electoral victory in 2019, describing the PDP as the party of the Niger Delta.
